A raid that netted imported steroids yesterday at the home of Savage Tattoo proprietor Grace Crossland was part of a police sting on alleged drug customers of Rebels and Odin’s Warriors bikies around Childers and Bundaberg.

Ms Crossland, who last October told media the new laws were “victimisation” and were “creating fear amongst society”, had not applied for a parlour licence. If she was to trade she would face prosecution under a regime that began today.

The amateur bodybuilder was given drug diversion over alleged cannabis and remains under investigation over the steroids, for which her tattooist partner was charged with illegal importation, police said.

Raids in total found two unlicensed handguns and two rifles, cannabis, steroids, ecstasy, MHDA, synthetic amphetamines, hundreds of steroid tablets, capsules and powder, $11,000 cash and drug paraphernalia.

Nine people in all were arrested on 22 charges.

 

Detective Inspector Brendan Smith of gang squad Maxima said a police strategy was to “target (bikies’ drug) networks because obviously if the customers are getting smashed, it makes life harder for them”.

He said police would give tattoo licence applicants a grace period while the Office of Fair Trading made their determinations amid “a large rush of applications coming in”.

“But if you haven’t applied, you’re liable to prosecution,” he said.

Det Insp Smith said the licensing regime — which requires every tattooist and parlour owner to be fingerprinted — would be used by police as “another tool” against outlaw motorcycle gangs.