Australasian biker news
 
AUSTRALASIAN BIKER NEWS

Home Bike News Rides  Events Tech Links

Links between police, drugs and corruption on the Gold Coast

Date

Outlaw bikie gangs' current firm foothold on the Gold Coast follows three decades of allegations - some substantiated - of links between police, drugs and corrupt payments for secret information, according to the CMC's 2011 Operation Tesco report.

When Operation Tesco was originally announced in April 2010 by then-police minister Neil Roberts it was believed it would also find links with the Gold Coast's outlaw motorcycle gangs.

However, those concerns were not substantiated by Operation Tesco.

This is a summary of investigations into Gold Coast police.

1989 - The Fitzgerald Report finds that "vice, drugs and police corruption" are all grave social problems on the Gold Coast.

1995 - CJC Operation Monument uncovers a corrupt relationship between a senior constable at Burleigh CIB and a drug supplier caught in possession of 42 grams of cocaine and $90,000 cash at the Gold Coast casino.

1996 - CJC Operation Caesar II finds that a former QPS officer and two serving Gold Coast District police officers corruptly received payments from a Sydney-based drug trafficker in return for confidential police information that would protect the drug distributor's illegal activities.

1997 - The Carter Report on police and drugs in Queensland follows the CJC's Operation Shield and describes two CJC investigations into officers allegedly stealing large sums of drug proceeds from drug suppliers. The report points to some Gold Coast police officers willing to forgo promotion to remain where they are stationed, increasing the likelihood of their developing inappropriate associations.

1998 - The CJC establishes Project Piper to investigate allegations that police officers at Nerang Police Station are accessing and disclosing information to a former officer who has become a private investigator. The allegations are substantiated.

2001 – CJC's Operation Abacus investigates alleged criminal conduct on the part of four Gold Coast CIB officers. Allegations include illicit drug use and supply, improper associations and corrupt disclosure of confidential police information. Many of the allegations are substantiated and all four Gold Coast CIB officers resign.

2008 - CMC Report Operation Castella investigates allegations of illicit dug use, inappropriate associations between police and criminals, abuse of confidential police information and misuse of police vehicles.

2009 - The CMC look at ways to improve managerial responsibility in the Gold Coast police service.

January 2010 - The CMC finds a Gold Coast police officer, his girlfriend and another person accused of being a drug dealer in a Fortitude Valley apartment. The accused drug dealer is charged with trafficking, 17 counts of supplying dangerous drugs and two charges of possessing dangerous drugs.

July 2010 - Raids on the home of a well-known Gold Coast nightclub identity, who was an associate of one police officer, allegedly find two ounces of cocaine and $20,000 in US and Australian dollars. The man and his partner are charged with 23 counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

June 2011 – Operation Tesco reveals two Gold Coast police officers are supplying confidential police information to criminals. It also finds 20 police received free drinks at Gold Coast night clubs, and that police cars are being used as taxis.

June 2011 - The Bligh government announces 18 detectives will be teamed together for Taskforce Resolve, which will tackle armed robberies on the Gold Coast.

July 2013 - The creation of a "flying squad" or a "mobile deployment force" of detectives is announced. Based at Surfers Paradise, it will combat outlaw bikie gangs.

 

 

 

Back

 

Hit Counter