May 25, 2023
Police have charged a 33-year-old Mount McEuen man with 99 offences as part of “Operation Victor Distinct”.
The man was arrested near Chinchilla on April 30, allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle containing stolen firearms.
He has been charged with multiple offences including entering premises and committing an indictable offence (22 counts), stealing a vehicle (15), unlawful possession of firearms (11), enter a dwelling (8), stealing (5), evading police (4), fraud (2), arson of vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, break and enter, and possession of a shortened firearm.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 5.
The Mount McEuen man was one of 16 people charged with a total of 178 offences as part of the ongoing police operation targeting rural thefts, unlawful firearms and drugs in the South Burnett and Western Downs.
A police spokesperson said the State Drug Squad, in conjunction with Kingaroy and Toowoomba Rural and Stock Crime Squads and Kingaroy and Dalby detectives, established Operation Victor Distinct in January to investigate, target and disrupt the illegal trade and possession of unlawful firearms and drugs.
After investigations, police executed three search warrants at Dalby, three at Chinchilla, two at Miles and one at Tara between May 12-15.
Fourteen firearms were seized, 11 of which had been allegedly stolen from rural properties across the district. They were found in an allegedly stolen vehicle at Kogan on April 30.
At Dalby on April 22, half a kilogram of methylamphetamine was seized by Dalby police.
Other people charged include a 23-year0old Chinchilla man (37 charges), a 53-year-old Miles man (12 charges), a 28 year-old Dalby man (two charges).
A further 12 people have been charged with various drug and weapons offences. They are expected to appear in Chinchilla Magistrates Court on June 22.
The police spokesperson said Operation Victor Distinct was ongoing.
Police have appealed for anyone with information regarding unlawful firearms, weapons or drugs to phone Policelink on 13-1444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800-333-000.