Officers from the Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern, Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), Tablelands CIB and Smithfield CIB charged two men with drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion offences on 28 January.
Police launched Operation Yankee Novi on 22 January, following reports a woman was kidnapped and extorted by a man known to her at a Machans Beach property.
It will be alleged one of the men is an associate of the Lone Wolf Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) and was involved with trafficking methylamphetamine in the Far Northern region.
On 28 January, police executed five search warrants at addresses in Mareeba, Mount Molloy, Trinity Beach and Machans Beach.
It will be alleged officers located a significant quantity of methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, drug utensils, and electronic devices.
A 31-year-old Mareeba man was arrested and charged with two counts each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, extortion with intent to gain benefit with threat of detriment, possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 4, and one count of kidnapping.
A 36-year-old Mount Molloy man was arrested and charged with one two counts of extortion with intent to gain benefit with threat of detriment, possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of kidnapping, trafficking in dangerous drugs, possess utensils, and contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically.
Both men were denied bail and appeared in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on 29 January.
The 31-year-old Mareeba man was remanded in custody to reappear on 7 April, while the 36-year-old man was remanded int custody to reappear on 2 February.
Operation Yankee Novi follows Operation Xray Rile, which resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old man and alleged Lone Wolf member, who was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs and money laundering in Cairns in December 2025.
Officer in charge of the Major and Organised Crime Squad Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Trent Odmark said police will continue targeting OMCG members and drug trafficking in the Far North.
"We are committed to reducing the movement of dangerous drugs in our community and the violence associated with it," Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Odmark said.
"Our officers are constantly working to disrupt this activity and bring offenders before the court, and we ask anyone in the community with information about this kind of offending to please come forward."
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
