Advertisement

Qld bikie raids: 81 people charged including man who allegedly gave drugs to 2yo boy

A man who was charged after raids targeting bikie gangs in Queensland had given methylamphetamine to a two-year-old boy, police allege.

In the past 24 hours, officers have raided 75 homes and businesses around inner Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Pine Rivers, Dalby, Gympie and Jimboomba.

Police said the raids targeted a drug-trafficking network allegedly operating within the Rebels outlaw bikie gang.

The operation involved millions of dollars of trafficking over a 12-month period, police said.

Officers seized $500,000 in cash and more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine during the raids.

A total of 81 people have been charged with 260 offences, with most of those charged in the 20 to 30-year-old age group.

A dozen of the charges include offences under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) Act.

Eight patched members of the Rebels were charged under the state's anti-bikie laws and with major drug offences.

Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said a 28-year-old man had been charged with recruiting for a declared criminal organisation under the VLAD Act, namely the Rebels motorcycle gang at Tweed Heads.

Superintendent Niland also said a 27-year-old man, who police allege was a Rebels-patched bikie, was charged with supplying drugs to a minor and trafficking methamphetamine.

Police allege that in June 2014 the man encouraged the child to consume methamphetamine in crystallised form on one occasion by dispensing it to the boy from his finger.

Superintendent Niland said after an intervention by the child protection investigation unit, the boy was rushed to the Mater Hospital where he tested positive for methamphetamine.

He said the child had since been placed in care "in a place of safety".

Those arrested are in custody to appear before the courts today and Friday morning, where it is expected police will oppose bail.

The raids came following a 14-month investigation, with more arrests expected.