UPDATE 3.30pm
POLICE have recovered firearms in their search of Sheldon bushland as part of their investigation into a sophisticated drug network.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Mooney said about four weapons were found well wrapped during a search of land on West Mount Cotton Road on Thursday.
UPDATE 11.50am
DETECTIVES used covert cameras planted in bushland on the bayside as part of their investigation into a sophisticated drug network.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Mooney said police would allege in court that four men - including one from Birkdale - arrested on Wednesday were part of a highly sophisticated drug network.
He said police believed their arrest would have a significant impact on the bayside drug supply.
Senior Sergeant Mooney said police believed the syndicate was a long-time operation which would have earned millions.
Police would allege that the covert cameras used during the 18-month Operation Papa Hierarchy filmed people burying drugs.
On Thursday, police and SES volunteers were scouring bushland on West Mount Cotton Road, Sheldon and Chelsea Road, Ransome for buried drugs or money.
Senior Sergeant Mooney said a kilogram of cocaine had been found on one of the properties during the investigation.
He said significant amounts of drugs were found when search warrants were executed on five houses on Wednesday. Among them were properties at Alexandra Hills and Birkdale.
Senior Sergeant Mooney said police believed the syndicate head was associated with or was a member of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
SES volunteers would look for holes in the ground, similar to a search for a grave.
Senior Sergeant Mooney said there had been no surveillance on the two properties for the past few months.
"They could be old places they are no longer using as a result of us seizing those drugs during the operation," he said.
Senior Sergeant Mooney said two detectives from Cleveland Criminal Investigation Branch started the investigation into the syndicate.
They had been working full-time on the operation for 18 months. The State Crime Command's Organised Crime Group later became involved bringing the number of detectives to 20.
Senior Sergeant Mooney said more syndicate members needed to be found and arrested but police will allege the four men arrested were the main parties.
UPDATE 11am
POLICE and SES volunteers are searching a property on West Mount Cotton Road, Sheldon.
Police believe drugs may be buried in bushland.
More to come.
EARLIER
POLICE have charged five people with drug trafficking and seized drugs, $300,000 cash and property including gun cases at Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Morningside and Fortitude Valley.
Among the five arrested is a 26-year-old Birkdale man.
Police will allege the group has links to Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
The warrants were executed on Wednesday as part of the 18-month Operation Papa Hierarchy involving detectives from Cleveland Criminal Investigation Branch and the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Group.
Police said the operation targeted illicit drug distribution, particularly methamphetamine and cocaine on the bayside and Brisbane's southside.
Police will allege that during the searches dangerous drugs including cocaine, methylamphetamine, heroin and cannabis were found, together with about $300,000 in cash, eight vehicles valued about $227,000 phones, jewellery and gun cases.
Bayside CIB officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Mooney said Operation Papa Hierarchy would conclude on Thursday with police and SES personnel conducting two searches.
"Yesterday's arrests have seen five people charged with drug trafficking and police seizing a significant quantity of drugs, cash and property," Detective Senior Sergeant Mooney said.
"This has caused serious disruption to this network and additional charges are expected."
The Birkdale man was charged with four counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs and three counts of possession dangerous drugs.
A 32-year-old man and a 23-year-old man, both from Morningside, were both charged with four counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, three counts of possession dangerous drugs and one count of possessing property obtained from trafficking in dangerous drugs.
A 23-year-old Fortitude Valley man was charged with five counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, one count each of possession dangerous drug, possession of drug utensil and unlawful possession of explosives.
The four men will appear in the Cleveland Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A Fortitude Valley woman, aged 22, was charged with one count of drug trafficking. She is due to appear in the Cleveland Magistrates Court on July 9.
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