Townsville Crime Alert: Police Apprehend Trio Hiding in Wheatbelt

Townsville Crime Fugitive Catch at Wheatbelt

Police say they have caught a wanted trio who were allegedly hiding out at a Wheatbelt campsite on the run from interstate police over an attack in Townsville. Queensland Police asked for help from their WA counterparts last month to catch a man and a woman wanted for serious assault and wounding offences in the North Queensland city. A second man was also being sought regarding a return to prison warrant in that state.

Investigation and Arrests

As part of their investigation, Queensland Police discovered the trio had driven to WA. WA Police then launched its own investigation to hunt them down, with the rapid apprehension squad finding they had been camping in the Wheatbelt area near Chittering but were travelling back to Perth regularly.

On Tuesday, police found an opportunity and pounced at Riverton Forum. The trio—a 21-year-old woman, a 41-year-old man, and a 20-year-old man—appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where a request for extradition was approved.

Collaboration Key in Townsville Crime Cases

Detective Superintendent Peter Foley of the rapid apprehension squad stated that collaboration with other policing jurisdictions is key to prioritizing community wellbeing and building safer communities. The WA Police Force has long-standing relationships with interstate counterparts, working together regularly to achieve shared law enforcement objectives.

Western Australia is not a safe haven for anyone trying to evade law enforcement in their own state or territory. The three individuals will now be returned to Queensland to face the consequences of their offending.

Ongoing Operations Against Crime

The arrests come as the rapid apprehension squad released its list of 19 most elusive fugitives, criminals who have avoided apprehension on return-to-prison warrants. They are believed to have fled the State, with some potentially at large overseas.

Among the fugitives is drug trafficker Ardil Khan, who was jailed for six years in 2020 for involvement in a multimillion-dollar drug syndicate. His recent legal troubles have been in the spotlight this week.