WA Police have charged 20 people and seized more than 30 tonnes of stolen gold-bearing ore in the state's Goldfields as part of the latest crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Key points:
- WA Police have seized more than 30 tonnes of allegedly stolen gold bearing ore during a three-day operation in Kalgoorlie-Boulder
- The gold was allegedly being processed in backyard refineries to be laundered for cash to fund illicit drug operations
- Police have charged 20 people with 56 offences, including possession of stolen property, firearms, ammunition and illicit drugs
Police say the ore was taken from several mine sites near the historic mining centre of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the gold it contains was destined to be laundered for cash to fund illegal drug operations.
It is not clear how much gold was in the ore or which mine sites it was allegedly stolen from.
The highly-toxic extraction process meant the Department of Water and Environment Regulation, ChemCentre and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services had to be called in to treat the backyard refineries.
A three-day operation coordinated by the Kalgoorlie-based Gold Stealing Detection Unit last week, between January 15 and 17, involved local police and specialist squads from Perth, including the Gang Crime Squad and Drug and Firearm Squad.
Twenty people who were arrested have been charged with 56 offences, including possession of stolen property, firearms, ammunition and illicit drugs.
Police say most of those charged are Kalgoorlie locals, with the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang the most prominent among the bikies involved.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said it was likely the backyard processing had been occurring for some time.
"We get a lot of stories about what the outlaw motorcycle gangs get up to around Western Australia," Mr Blanch said.
"I think this has gotten to a new level, to poison the community by using things like mercury in residential premises."
Premier Roger Cook echoed the commissioner's sentiments and praised the work of police.
"It won't surprise you to hear that it's not the first time [backyard refining has] taken place in Kalgoorlie. I'm really pleased authorities are on top of this," he said.
"Backyard refining is a very dangerous process, and represents a risk to the community and the community's health."
Backyard refining similar to meth labs
The police operation, which took place in the middle of sweltering temperatures and a city-wide blackout, resulted in raids at 17 locations.
The value of the ore seized was yet to be fully calculated, with the mineral yet to be fully tested.
Goldfields-Esperance Police Superintendent Kate Collins said backyard refining was uncovered at a number of the properties.
She compared the risks posed, and approach taken by those involved, to the previous proliferation of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories throughout the state.
"We saw a range of how they were processing the ore. Some locations were more technically advanced than others," Superintendent Collins said.
"It can start off rudimentary, but it depends on the location and those involved."
Significant risks involved
Detective Inspector Adrian Vuleta said the risks posed to the Kalgoorlie community were significant.
"Unlike businesses involved in the gold extraction processes, who have well-established safe processes and control measures in place to protect their staff and the community, people who engage in improvised extraction processes in their back gardens are not only exposing themselves to increased health risks from the chemicals used, but they potentially expose their neighbours to those same risks," he said.
"This operation was not only important to protect the community from those extraction-related risks, but to prevent the stealing of the end gold product which we believe was being laundered to obtain cash to fund the purchase of illicit drugs such as methylamphetamine to sell in the community."
Minister praises investigation
Speaking in Kalgoorlie on Wednesday, Police Minister Paul Papalia said amateur gold refining involved dangerous chemicals which could put local water supplies at risk.
He condemned the activities as "selfish" and "idiotic".
"It just confirms how thoughtless and uncaring these bikies are. It's all about their greed and self-interest," Mr Papalia said.
"Apart from the unlawful nature of the activity, amateur refining of gold involving dangerous chemicals in suburban areas could have had catastrophic consequences, including potentially contaminating local water supplies.
"The actions of those involved were selfish and idiotic."
Mr Papalia said the latest arrests also reinforced the Government's tough legislative approach to bikie gangs, including anti-consorting laws and a push to bar known gang members from owning firearms.