The Holden utility was one of numerous vehicles modified to conceal drugs and money that were uncovered during Operation Kilo Fraction, which began in August 2012.

Police seized the ute after raiding the luxury waterfront home of alleged drug trafficker Ivan Tesic on March 20 this year.

Detectives from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch had identified Mr Tesic as the alleged mastermind of an interstate drug empire.

Drugs, chiefly cocaine, were allegedly transported from Sydney to the Gold Coast and sold in Surfers Paradise nightclubs, including Mr Tesic’s own Orchid Avenue establishment Club Liv.

Police also intercepted a Holden sedan leaving Mr Tesic's property, with $139,000 in cash allegedly stashed in the door trimmings.

When officers started pulling apart the ute seized from Mr Tesic’s Isle of Capri home, they discovered that the passenger-side airbag had been hollowed out and inside was a switch.

The switch opened a hydraulic trap door behind the front passenger seat. Beyond the trap door, police found a steel safe welded to the fuel tank, but could not crack the code to open it.

So, police called in the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

Fire crews busted open the safe using hydraulic cutters, nicknamed the ‘‘jaws-of-life’’ because they are usually reserved for cutting people from car wrecks.

Inside, police found six litres of methylamphetamine oil, which officers estimate could have produced $11 million worth of drugs.

Police began closing in on Mr Tesic after detectives from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch started investigating former Bandidos sergeant-at-arms Joshua Downey, who infamously appeared on the front page of The Gold Coast Bulletin boasting: "We run this town."

Mr Tesic was arrested at Sydney Domestic Airport on Friday afternoon, after he allegedly fled his Piper Street home in West Hoxton.

The 43-year-old is expected to be extradited to Queensland this week to face drug trafficking charges under the state’s tough anti-association legislation.

Police intend to restrain four luxury properties in Sydney and the Gold Coast, Mr Tesic’s Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes, nearly $1 million in cash and a watch worth $500,000.

Mr Downey was arrested in Airlie Beach and faced Mackay Magistrates Court on drug trafficking charges, where he was remanded in custody.

Hours after arresting Mr Tesic on Friday, police swooped on four Surfers Paradise nightclubs, concluding their 19-month-long operation.

To date 152 people, including patched members and associates of the Bandidos, Finks, Rebels, highway 61 and Lone Wolves outlaw bikie gangs, have been arrested on more than 400 charges.

Police said the entire operation stopped $26 million worth of drugs hitting the streets.