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ajor cocaine, ice racket smashed in Qld

 
 
 
- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/qld/2017/02/18/three-charged-after-major-qld-drug-bust.html#sthash.d01iw07Q.dpuf
The Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) says it has smashed a major cocaine and ice racket on the Gold Coast linked to Hells Angels.

It comes after a major covert investigation known as Operation Atlanta, which targeted organised crime in the area.

Four men, allegedly major players in a distribution network that had links to the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, are facing over 650 separate criminal charges as a result of the investigation.

A 41-year-old has been charged with 244 offences, a 55 year-old property developer has been charged with 296 offences and a 46-year-old has been charged with 26 offences.

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All three have been charged with trafficking and supplying ice and cocaine.

The 41-year-old man was also charged with producing ice.

A 55-year-old Gold Coast man was charged by the CCC last month as part of the operation, with 91 offences including trafficking ice and cocaine and 74 counts of supplying drugs.

It will be alleged the men were involved in an ice production and distribution site was running out of Tedder Avenue, Main Beach

The wholesale value of the ice is approximately $250,000 but would have a significantly larger street value after being cut, repackaged and sold.

A range of weapons were also seized during the operation including a pump action shotgun, rifle, butterfly knife and a taser.

The men were bailed and are expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on 3 March 2017.

- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/qld/2017/02/18/three-charged-after-major-qld-drug-bust.html#sthash.d01iw07Q.dpuf

No TV, 22 hours a day in cell: My time in a bikie superjail

TIME spent in a jail with no television and only two daylight hours out of a cell were considered in sentencing a known member of a bikie gang.

Ricky Wayne McDougal pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore District Court this week to stealing a motorcycle on January 22, 2013.

His defence barrister James Godbolt said Mr McDougal was part of a "criminal motorcycle gang" and had been subjected to a restricted regime which should be given consideration in sentencing.

The regime was introduced by former Premier Campbell Newman in October 2013 as part of the controversial VLAD laws.

It involved prisoners spending time in solitary with "no tvs in their cells and only allowed two daylight hours out of the cell".

These conditions were given "substantial allowance" in Supreme Court Judge Peter Appelgarth's sentencing of three men in 2013.

"His honour reviewed the sentence to impose on the prisoner in light of fact would be spent in those conditions," Mr Godbolt told the court.

"It was a matter for which he gave substantial allowance."

Mr McDougal spent "35 days under those conditions" for a previous offence.

Judge Long debated the "serious offence" of a valuable bike stolen against the information provided.

Mr McDougal was already in Woodford jail for another offence and would remain imprisoned until April 21, 2018 and the court heard he was hoping for a transfer to a prison farm.

Judge Long detailed Mr McDougal's "significant criminal history dating back to 1998" when he was 17 which included drug offences and "most significantly" a manslaughter charge in 2006 for which he served eight years.

The period of 35 days was taken had to be taken into consideration for the stealing offence.

"I accept this was served under severe conditions and have given this some added weight in dealing with you," Judge Long said.

He said Mr McDougal's interests and the community interests would be best "under a parole regime" which would come into effect from April 21, 2018.

ajor cocaine, ice racket smashed in Qld

 
 
 
- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/qld/2017/02/18/three-charged-after-major-qld-drug-bust.html#sthash.d01iw07Q.dpuf

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