Yandina 5 members face string of drug trafficking and weapons charges in new twist to bikie association arrests
- 12 hours ago February 04, 2014
The father of one of the members, Michael Smith, who recently resigned from the Rebels, is also charged with a long list of offences.
The group was arrested in December for breaking anti-association laws by drinking together at the Yandina Hotel on the Sunshine Coast.
Three of them - Steven Smith, 28, Paul Lansdowne, 57, and Joshua Carew, 30, - together have 12 trafficking and weapons charges predating the pub incident.
The remaining members of the Yandina Five, Scott Conley and Dan Whale, are not facing additional charges.
Only Michael Smith appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday for the committal mention. His son Steven is in custody and the other two were excused from attending.
Michael Smith was listed on charges including drug trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of weapons and unauthorised explosives.
A 10th charge was added for having a shortened shotgun between July 24 and December 27 last year.
Steven Smith, a concrete renderer, and Paul Lansdowne, pizza shop owner, face two charges each including drug trafficking.
Joshua Carew, a pizza shop employee, faces eight charges including possession and trafficking of dangerous drugs, related to an alleged amphetamine ring.
A social media campaign to "Free the Yandina 5" was launched after supporters of the group said the five men were simply a pizza parlour owner, his employee, a renderer, a truck driver and an IT student catching up for a beer at a local pub.
Lawyers for the four alleged bikies yesterday sought a committal date, which was set down for May 9.
In a separate case, alleged Rebel Lorne Campbell who has twice been allowed to walk, faced another four charges relating to extortion, stealing, wilful damage and dangerous conduct of a weapon.
Campbell's committal was listed for March 3.