Mongols motorcycle club raid in Cairns finds drugs, guns and cash

Queensland police are working to stamp out a nascent motorcycle club in Cairns with international links to crime.

Key points:

Queensland police have arrested seven members of a motorcycle club
The group came to the attention of police in August last year
A coordinated raid led to the arrest of seven club members for various drug and weapons offences

Several members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club have been arrested following a coordinated police raid across the city in a bid to crack down on emerging crime syndicates.

The raids followed targeted vehicle intercepts by police earlier this month, where detectives identified the alleged Mongols members and issued notices to appear for offences including drug driving, and possession of dangerous drugs including steroids.

Seven members of the club were charged with 17 counts of assault, drug and weapons offences.

Detective Inspector Mick Searle said the investigation into the group began in August last year after it became apparent the group was emerging in the Far North city.

“The Mongols are a nationwide and international-based group. Without going into the intricacies of their business model, like any group that’s trying to expand its presence, they will lay some groundwork with established members and then started a recruiting phase from then,” he said.

“Unfortunately, there are members of the community that are drawn to that type of lifestyle.”

Crime magnified in smaller cities

Detective Inspector Searle said the harm that can be caused from organised criminal activity would be “magnified” in smaller regional communities such as Cairns.

“Some of the issues — the social issues, the crime issues that we’re already combating — we don’t need extra potential for drugs, violence and other types of crime on top of that,” he said.

“Anything that poses that threat to the community and the safety of this wonderful place that we live in, we’ll take really seriously.”

Body-worn camera footage provided by Queensland Police show officers ramming doors and fences to enter the residential properties, where they allegedly found drugs, guns, cash and Mongols-branded clothing, which is prohibited by law.

The raids took place in the Cairns suburbs of Smithfield, Kewarra Beach, Mooroobool, Redlynch, Holloways Beach and Edmonton late last week.

The men will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court at various dates this month.

Source: ABC.net.au