Bandido in court over $10,000 cigarette heist
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AAP
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July 28, 2012
Bandido gang members. Picture: AP / Mark Baker Source: AP
AN OUTLAW motorcycle gang member has been charged over the theft of more than $10,000 worth of cigarettes in 2010.
The 37-year-old Cairns man and Bandidos member was arrested in north Queensland yesterday and faced Cairns Magistrates Court on Saturday.
He was remanded into custody until Monday.
Police said ten people had been charged over the heist.
Detectives launched a cold case investigation earlier this year in relation to two thefts of large quantities of packaged cigarettes from a Woree freight depot in Cairns in February and May 2010.
The goods were sold through Cairns and Townsville shortly after the robberies.
Operation Kilo-Entourage came to focus on the Cairns chapter of the Bandidos, police said.
The operation found evidence of fraud, property theft, home invasions and drug-related activity.
Police say detectives have been "strongly encouraged" by the amount of information received from the public.
The 37-year-old has been charged with two counts of stealing property exceeding $5000 as well as fraud, possessing cannabis, stealing a vehicle, and possessing tainted property.
More arrests are likely over the weekend, police say.
