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A ROCKHAMPTON city councillor and board member of Crime Stoppers
has had a house which she owns seized by police in an operation
targeting drug trafficking by bikies.
A rental property belonging to Rose Swadling has been seized
under proceeds of crime laws.
In the same operation, Rockhampton lawyer Doug Winning has been
served with a notice to appear in court to face charges of
official corruption and attempting to pervert the course of
justice.
Cr Swadling was recently re-elected to the Rockhampton City
Council and is liaison officer between council and the police.
Her house was seized as part of Operation Mayflower – a
20-month investigation involving the Australian Crime Commission,
Crime and Misconduct Commission and state police. It targeted the
production and supply of amphetamines and other drugs by alleged
criminal networks throughout Queensland.
Part of the investigation focused on the Rockhampton chapter of
the Rebels motorcycle gang – headed by Cr Swadling's
brothers, James and Brendan O'Brien.
The Rebels' lawyer Mr Winning allegedly was secretly recorded
tipping off Brendan O'Brien about a police drug raid.
Mr Winning allegedly told Mr O'Brien that he had received
information that police had arrived from Brisbane to help the
local force raid addresses linked to the gang's Rockhampton
chapter the following morning.
It is understood Mr Winning also told him a briefing would be
held at the Rockhampton police station just before the raids.
Last week, the CMC served Mr Winning with a notice to appear on
June 2 to face charges.
Mr Winning declined to comment yesterday.
James and Brendan O'Brien were major targets of Operation
Mayflower and have been charged with drug trafficking.
James O'Brien rented Cr Swadling's house in the Rockhampton
suburb of Depot Hill.
Cr Swadling said yesterday that she was taking legal action to
get her house back and she felt she was being targeted because of
her brothers.
"There's nothing more you can say when it's your family,
they're all adults," she said.
© Queensland Newspapers
