Police seized a modified Glock 19, cocaine and more than $600,000 cash during raids on people with alleged ties to the Canberra Bandidos. Photos: ACT Policing.
A major investigation into what is suspected of being the Canberra Bandidos, who police allege have trafficked $10 million-worth of cocaine, resulted in the arrests of seven people.
An ACT Policing spokesperson said that since early 2025, a team of officers had been investigating a criminal group allegedly involved in trafficking illicit drugs.
“While police were conducting this investigation, the syndicate became the Canberra chapter of the Bandidos OMCG, calling themselves the ‘King City’ chapter,” the spokesperson alleged.
“Police will allege the group has been involved in the trafficking of more than 70 kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $10 million.”
The team began conducting raids related to the investigation in August 2026, which initially led to the arrests of 36-year-old Adam Ha and 31-year-old Domenico Luca Costanzo.
They both pleaded not guilty to their charges, and their lawyers disputed any alleged links to the Bandidos when they faced the ACT Magistrates Court that month.
Their arrests were soon followed by that of 36-year-old Matthew William Byrne.
He did not enter pleas to his charges when he first faced court, but his lawyer described the alleged connection between him and the gang as “somewhat tenuous”.
Police continued their investigations, raiding seven premises and two vehicles between late August and early September.
Police also charged three men and one woman over various allegations.
“Two other men, who police will allege are also members of this criminal group, are currently remanded for unrelated offending. They may be charged at a later date,” the police spokesperson said.
As a result of the total operation, police allegedly seized 4.6 kg of cocaine, $600,000 cash, a modified Glock 19 firearm, Bandidos paraphernalia and four dedicated encrypted communication devices.
Police also allegedly seized a large quantity of valuable items and four vehicles suspected of being the proceeds of crime, as well as steroids, batons, tasers and knuckle dusters.
Two people arrested during the operation over separate allegations, 33-year-old Bradley Keen and 29-year-old Anna Tuerck Jobling, faced the Magistrates Court in early September.
Ms Jobling was charged with one count of attempting to conceal evidence and was granted bail, while Mr Keen was charged with drug trafficking and participating in a criminal group before he applied to be released as well.
The court heard he was found with $15,000 cash, but he told police, “I’ve been saving up”.
His lawyer, Legal Aid’s Eimear Silk, argued there was nothing in the documents before the court that linked him to drug trafficking or being involved in a criminal group.
“I struggle to indeed be satisfied they [the prosecution] have established a circumstantial case,” Magistrate James Lawton said about the allegations against Mr Keen. He granted bail.
ACT Policing’s Detective Acting Inspector Mark Battye said outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGS) were not harmless groups riding motorcycles.
“They use greed, intimidation and violence to fuel the commercial trafficking of harmful drugs and weapons, making large amounts of money in the process that goes towards more offending,” he said.
“Arresting members of the newly formed Canberra Chapter of the Bandidos OMCG is a positive result for all of us, and in the interests of community safety.”
Mr Byrne returns to court on 15 September, Mr Costanzo on 22 September and Mr Ha on 8 October. Both Mr Keen and Ms Jobling, who did not enter pleas, return on 30 September.
Two other men, aged 28 and 29, will return to court on 24 September and 10 November respectively. They have not yet been named, as Region was not present when they were charged in court.
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