Alleged bikie associate charged with money laundering after his lavish life raises suspicions
An unemployed alleged Mongols bikie associate has been charged with money laundering after his lavish life at a "palatial" Gold Coast property raised the suspicions of police.
Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service and Australian Taxation Office staff executed seven warrants on Tuesday where they arrested the 32-year-old senior associate and two women, aged 32 and 56.
It is alleged the long-time Gold Coast residents were using the proceeds of drug sales to fund their extravagant lifestyles.
Officers seized four homes worth a total of $3.5 million and a small amount of drugs and cash.
At one of the lavish hinterland properties with six bedrooms and a media room, police also found a Mercedes parked in the driveway.
AFP Detective Superintendent Russel Smith said police were notified about the trio because they appeared to have "accumulated wealth beyond their means".
"It's not about a war on drugs anymore, this is about a war on organised crime," he said.
"We'll ID you, we'll charge you, you'll go to jail and then we'll strip you of your assets."
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QPS Detective Superintendent Roger Lowe said the man and two women were living a lifestyle that didn't match their income.
"The main residential property is quite palatial," he said on Wednesday.
Det Supt Lowe said they allegedly used a "complex financial web" to mask where the funds were coming from.
"We've accumulated enough evidence to support that this is proceeds money from the sale of illicit drugs," he said.
"We do anticipate significant additional charges to those three people."
The three people have so far been charged with dealing in proceeds of crime greater than $1 million.
It carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years.
The man is expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday while the women will appear next month.
A 35-year-old man from Lismore in NSW is also expected to be charged with dishonesty offences over allegations he was providing taxation advice to the group.
Tuesday's arrests marked the end of Operation Reddig, a two-year investigation that resulted in 19 people being arrested and charged with 60 offences.
Officers seized $600,000 in cash, 135,000 MDMA tablets, 99 LSD tablets and 6kg of cannabis over the course of the National Anti-Gangs Squad joint investigation.
