QLD councillor hit in biker sting

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QLD councillor hit in biker sting

 

A Rockhampton city councillor and board member of Crime Stoppers has had a house which she owns seized by police in an operation targeting drug trafficking by bikers.

A rental property belonging to Rose Swadling has been seized under proceeds of crime laws.

In the same operation, Rockhampton lawyer Doug Winning has been served with a notice to appear in court to face charges of official corruption and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

 

Cr Swadling was recently re-elected to the Rockhampton City Council and is liaison officer between council and the police.

 

Her house was seized as part of Operation Mayflower – a 20-month investigation involving the Australian Crime Commission, Crime and Misconduct Commission and state police. It targeted the production and supply of amphetamines and other drugs by alleged criminal networks throughout Queensland.

 

Part of the investigation focused on the Rockhampton chapter of the Rebels motorcycle club– headed by Cr Swadling's brothers, James and Brendan O'Brien.

 

The Rebels' lawyer Mr Winning allegedly was secretly recorded tipping off Brendan O'Brien about a police drug raid.

Mr Winning allegedly told Mr O'Brien that he had received information that police had arrived from Brisbane to help the local force raid addresses linked to the clubs Rockhampton chapter the following morning.

It is understood Mr Winning also told him a briefing would be held at the Rockhampton police station just before the raids.

Last week, the CMC served Mr Winning with a notice to appear on June 2 to face charges.

 

Mr Winning declined to comment yesterday.

James and Brendan O'Brien were major targets of Operation Mayflower and have been charged with drug trafficking.

 

James O'Brien rented Cr Swadling's house in the Rockhampton suburb of Depot Hill.

 

Cr Swadling said yesterday that she was taking legal action to get her house back and she felt she was being targeted because of her brothers.

 

"There's nothing more you can say when it's your family, they're all adults," she said