Key focus area—Significant and emerging criminal networks

Outlaw motor cycle gangs

Outlaw motor cycle gangs (OMCGs) are an ongoing investigative and intelligence priority for the QPS. This is based on their known involvement in criminal activity and propensity for violence within Australia and internationally. OMCG Task Force Hydra was established in 2006 to direct QPS strategies aimed at disrupting and dismantling OMCGs in Queensland.

Since February 2007, OMCG Task Force Hydra has worked in cooperation with all regions in targeting organised criminal activity associated with OMCGs. As a result, 349 people have been arrested and charged on 979 charges relating to varying offences including attempted murder, arson, extortion, robbery with violence and drug trafficking.

Members from the State Traffic Task Force, OMCG Task Force Hydra and regional police work collaboratively to target national bike runs, poker runs and bike shows. Policing methods focus on dangerous driving, disqualified or unlicensed driving, overt traffic offences and the seizure of vehicles. During 2008-09 178 people were arrested on 448 charges.

Armed robbery

Regular meetings and discussions have been held between the Armed Robbery Unit and the Australian Bankers Association regarding identification of target hardening strategies, and strategies to address ATM gas attacks. The unit continues to provide advice to the banking industry on armed robbery trends and security issues.

Telecommunications interception

The Telecommunications Interception Act 2009 was passed by Queensland Parliament in May and commenced on 18 June 2009.

Commonwealth legislation supporting the Queensland Act has also been proclaimed. The Queensland Police Service and the Crime and Misconduct Commission are now ‘eligible authorities’ to intercept telecommunications under the Commonwealth legislation and as such both agencies can now apply for telecommunication interception warrants.

These changes mean the QPS and CMC can now independently use telecommunications interceptions (TI) to target criminals involved in organised and serious crime.

The technology will also assist police to target and seize illicit proceeds of crime.

Heavy vehicle investigations

The Heavy Vehicle Investigation Team targets organised heavy vehicle crime, traffic offences and intelligence gathering on cross border issues, such as the interstate transportation of illicit drugs and property.

During 2008-09 over 800 heavy vehicles were intercepted by Heavy Vehicle Investigation Team members. A number of heavy vehicle operators were prosecuted for the possession of dangerous drugs including amphetamines and cannabis. Joint operations with regional police and the State Traffic Task Force led to a number of successful investigations into activities of people across the state involved in the heavy vehicle industry.

Vehicle crime

The Vehicle Crime Unit hosted a national Vehicle Crime Conference in February 2009. The conference was attended by representatives from all state and territory law enforcement agencies, insurance company representatives, forensic specialists and experts from the automobile industry. Outcomes included the identification of emerging trends:

• in the auto theft industry
• in fraudulent motor vehicle insurance
• in re-birthing
• nationally.

Organised vehicle theft was dealt a blow when Operation Raptor commenced in April 2009.

Investigations revealed an ‘arranged theft’ racket involving people in the motor repair industry including mechanical workshops, automotive recyclers, panel beaters and tow truck operators, whereby the owners reported their vehicles stolen and made insurance claims. Search warrants were executed on 17 premises and 17 people were arrested on 36 charges.

Major drug initiatives

A range of investigative strategies are used by the QPS to obtain evidence against drug offenders including surveillance, the use of drug detection dogs, the execution of search warrants and the conduct of approved controlled covert operations.

A number of significant operations have been undertaken by the State Drug Investigation Unit (SDIU) in 2008-09. This included a joint operation with the Australian Crime Commission targeting drug trafficking offences on the Gold Coast, and a joint operation with the Australian Customs Service and Australian Federal Police targeting the importation, manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs. During these operations a total of 104 people were arrested on 286 charges and drugs with a combined estimated street value of $1.3 million were seized.

The collection of information from the community and human sources is critical to the successful investigation of drug offences. Crime Stoppers is one such valuable source. In the first six months of 2009, $7.25 million worth of illicit drugs were seized and 2 115 drug related charges prosecuted following information provided through Crime Stoppers and investigated by the QPS.

A major emphasis is placed on the identification and seizure of proceeds of crime. During the current financial year the SDIU has been involved in the issue of 33 restraining orders worth an estimated $14.3 million.

The SDIU continues to foster numerous strategic alliances and collaborations with police, government, industry and the community on a state, national and international basis. This includes the National Working Party on the Diversion of Precursor Chemicals and the Queensland Government’s ‘Ice Breaker’ Strategy Task Force, which focuses on the three primary areas of prevention and education, law enforcement and treatment.

The SDIU has also initiated and reinforced a number of strategies with a focus on reducing the availability of precursor chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs, and the cultivation of community and human sources relating to the importation, manufacture, supply and trafficking in illicit drugs. This includes development of the Chemical Diversion Awareness brochure and the ‘Putting the Breaks on Speed’ campaign.

In addition to internal training and awareness sessions, the SDIU also provides awareness sessions to external groups. These include pharmacy groups, the real estate industry, the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and community groups to educate on the dangers of illicit drugs, clandestine laboratories, industries’ responsibilities in the supply of precursor chemicals and risks of organised crime syndicates infiltrating relevant organisations.

In 2008-09 there were 148 clandestine drug laboratories seized in Queensland. This is an increase from the 121 laboratories seized during the 2007-08 reporting period.

Illicit labs detected in Queensland are typically smaller than those found in other States and have lower levels of production.

Various proactive strategies have been adopted by the QPS, including ‘Project STOP’, a joint initiative of the Pharmacy Guild of Queensland and the QPS, which has led to a significant decline in pseudoephedrine based products, predominantly over-the-counter cold and flu medications, being diverted from pharmacies to the manufacture of methylamphetamine. ‘Project STOP’ is currently being rolled out nationally to all pharmacies in Australia by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, with funding from the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department.

The ‘20th Clandestine Laboratory Investigation Course’ was provided in March 2009. The QPS continues to be regarded as providing one of the most contemporary and ‘up-to-date’ clandestine laboratory courses in Australia and the South Pacific Region.

Major cannabis operation

In July 2008, a joint operation between the Cultivated Drug Operations Team, State Operations Command and police from Southern Region successfully netted one of the largest cannabis crops ever uncovered in Queensland. An anonymous tip off via Crime Stoppers led police to a property near Inglewood in south west Queensland and resulted in 15 tonnes of cannabis with a market value of around $500 million being seized. Suspects were identified and charged with a number of drug and weapons related offences.

Intelligence gathering

The State Intelligence Group has taken important steps towards further enhancing its overall intelligence capability and capacity, in line with increasing demand for its services. The group has also realigned its resource allocation to better support the Target Development Team and Strategic Intelligence Unit. This will increase the resources available for the proactive identification and development of high level criminal targets. Additionally, it will facilitate the identification of key and emerging crime trends and issues of significance to the QPS environment.

Key future initiatives

Task Force Argos is in the final stages of producing an Internet safety package and informational DVD providing advice to parents, guardians, school teachers and community groups across Queensland on child protection strategies for the differing online content available to children. The DVD expands upon the key safety messages of the ‘Who’s Chatting to your Kids?’ brochure campaign and will be launched during Child Protection Week in September 2009.

Crime Stoppers Queensland Limited and the QPS, in conjunction with Crime Stoppers Australia, will be conducting the 30th Crime Stoppers International Training Conference at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast in October 2009. This conference will showcase the role of Crime Stoppers in the community and offer an opportunity to exchange methodologies to ‘Secure our Future’.

In the coming 12 months, the Forensic Computer Examination Unit will roll out an intranet based service called Project FarNet that will enable officers across the state to review the contents of computers and digital devices they have seized whilst in the field and in real-time.

The Fraud and Corporate Crime Group and QPS Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch will undertake a proactive project examining the issues of seniors and online fraud. Eighty community members over fifty years of age who have either been the victim of online fraud or approached to take part in a scam will be surveyed. The results will assist in better understanding why seniors fall victim to online crimes and will identify the most effective methods and strategies for education and prevention specific to this cohort of the community.

The Task Force Against Graffiti will continue to progress a comprehensive research project examining graffiti offenders, their motivations and their involvement, if any, in other criminality. The project will culminate with a graffiti focussed conference for law enforcement and crime prevention practitioners.

The Queensland Government is developing legislation aimed at restricting and disrupting the activities of criminal organisations, including but not limited to Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs (OMCGs). The Organised Crime Bill is expected to be introduced in December 2009.

In the coming year the QPS will examine the potential for using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology as an investigative tool. ANPR software, in combination with closed circuit television camera networks, is currently being utilised by various law enforcement agencies across the world, enabling investigators to pin-point vehicles travelling on any road within the network, at any time. The use of this technology overseas has assisted in homicide, drug, traffic and burglary investigations and prosecutions.

Telecommunications interception (TI) powers The Government has provided $2 million in the 2009-10 Budget to establish an interim TI capability for the QPS and CMC for six months. During that time, the Police Service and CMC will confirm their requirements for a permanent TI capability.

The 2009 Hi Tech Crime Symposium will be held in Brisbane. The Symposium will explore the emergence and potential of cyber warfare and delve further into the world of intellectual property theft.

The QPS will co-host the 12th Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates (FBINAA) Asia Pacific Chapter Conference together with the Queensland Graduates of the FBINAA on the Gold Coast from August 9 to 13, 2009. Key topics will include terrorism, cyber-crime, paedophilia, drug enforcement, money laundering and fraud.