Club Owners, DJ Arrested In Australia Raids

Gold Coast police closed an 18-month investigation of the area’s drug scene with raids on local nightclubs Club Liv, Shuffle, Sin City and Vanity. The raids April 4-5 led to 150 arrests.

Photo: facebook.com/joeymojo.sandagontwo

These included SinCity and Vanity nightclubs owner Jamie Pickering, Club Liv part-owner Ivan Tesic and high-profile DJ Joseph “JoeyMojo” Sandagon.

Tesic, who was arrested April 4 at Sydney airport, was named alleged ringleader of a syndicate that supplied methamphetamine oil from Sydney to the Gold Coast.

Police said they began closing in on him after investigating Joshua Downey, a former sergeant-at-arms with the Bandidos biker gang who once infamously appeared on the front page of The Gold Coast Bulletin boasting: “We run this town.”

Pickering was due to face Southport Magistrates Court April 8. Police estimated the operation stopped $26 million worth of drugs hitting the streets.

In other news, Paul DeMarco, drummer with veteran blues-metal outfit Rose Tattoo, was arrested in a police sting related to the sale of illegal military-style firearms through western Sydney.

Also arrested were former biker boss Sam Ibrahim, who faces Parramatta Local Court April 9, and Maha Sayour, sister of Sam Ibrahim and Sydney nightclub operator John Ibrahim.