Smashed From the Inside as Raids Net Suspects

Jessica Elder | 29 November, 2011 | Gold Coast Bulletin

Two Finks motorcycle gang members and 12 Finks associates were arrested yesterday after dawn drug raids on 15 Gold Coast properties.

Police say the raids, which smashed a massive drug-trafficking ring, came after undercover police spend nine months infiltrating the outlaw bikie gang.

More than 100 police executed the raids on homes from Nerang to Mermaid Beach, seizing GHB, methamphetamine and 66 litres of chemicals used to produce methamphetamines.

Undercover police infiltrated Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Club for nine months before yesterday smashing what police believe is a drug-trafficking ring in the city’s biggest ever raid.

More than 100 police – headed by Taskforce Hydra – executed secret simultaneous dawn raids on 15 Gold Coast homes from Nerang to Mermaid beach, seizing the party drug GHB, methamphetamines as well as 66 litres of chemicals used to produce methamphetamines.

Police arrested 14 Gold Coasters, including two Finks Motorcycle Club members and 12 Finks associates. All will face court today.

The Gold Coast was the focus of Operation Ice Vulcan, aimed at cracking down on bikies, organised crime and drug production.

Raids were also conducted in Logan and Brisbane.

In total, 37 people were arrested on 237 charges, including weapons charges, supply and production of dangerous drug and prostitution.

Luxury cars, motorcycles, drugs, trailers and a Taser were reportedly seized and more raids are expected over coming days.

Senior police said the operation would put a major dent in the sale of serious party drugs.

Taskforce Hydra’s Detective Inspector Garry Watts said he was pleased with the outcome.

“This was a massive raid and we believe we have smashed a major drug-trafficking network,” he said.

“The investigation started on the Coast in January but led us to Logan, Ipswich and South Brisbane. The ringleaders were based on the Gold Coast and this is where the majority of our arrests were made.”

Terrified neighbours said they woke to what they thought were gunshots as hundreds of police swooped on one Carrara house yesterday.

Lauren Gain said she imagined the worst when she heard gun-like shots only 300m from her home

“I had just woken up and about 20 loud shots rang out,” she said.

“After the shooting on Hooker Boulevard recently, you think the worst when you hear those sounds.

“It was a relief to hear no one had been shot but still very scary to think that such dangerous criminals were practically our neighbours.”

Another woman – who refused to be named – said she wasn’t surprised when the house next door to hers was raided.

“I have lived here 10 years and the house next door has new people living in it every six months,” she said.

“All the people living there now seem nice enough – it was a shock to see all the police here this morning.”

Finks members abused the media at several raid sites across the city yesterday, screaming obscenities and lashing out physically.

One man, a known Finks associate, allegedly assaulted a female ABC reporter and stole the keys to her car.

The police confirmed the man was not involved in yesterday’s raids.