Queensland police's anti-bikie squad has seized 7500 ecstasy pills believed to be bound for this weekend's Future Music Festival.
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Taskforce Maxima detectives seized the drugs and $50,000 in cash in a series of raids across Brisbane and on Russell Island on Friday.
They said the drugs had a street value of about half a million dollars and their distribution was linked to the Bandidos bikie gang.
The raids, executed as part of the six month Operation Mike Order, came nearly three weeks after police raided a so-called drug production safe house in Bulimba, where they seized 3000 pills, 680 grams of cocaine, ice and $16,000 in cash.
Taskforce Maxima Acting Detective Inspector Mark Andrews said the drug ring continued trafficking after that, with intelligence received by police indicating they were stockpiling drugs to sell at Saturday's Future Music Festival at Doomben Racecourse.
Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said the drug and cash haul was "no small feat".
"7500 pills is an indicator of the criminality of this syndicate and their associates, that's easy money in the scheme of things and we've stopped that," he said.
"We have seen in recent months a number of people die from taking ecstasy around the country, hopefully we have prevented a death."
Taskforce Maxima detectives charged 17 people with 110 largely drug-related offences, ranging from trafficking to possession, stemming from Friday morning's raids.
Four have been charged under the state's Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws, including a Carina man, 26, who is alleged to be linked to the Bandidos.
Most have been remanded in custody to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Superintendent Smith said Friday's raids marked the closure of Operation Mike Order and reiterated the success of the drug seizures.
"That's 7000 hits off the street, 7000 people who possibly could have been affected by drugs made in backyard labs," he said.
"It's madness to put them in your body ... people are compressing drugs in backyard sheds or in bathrooms."
Raids were carried out at homes in Wynnum, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Coopers Plains, Eagleby, Teneriffe, Bowen Hills, Carina, Oxley and Russell Island.
Taskforce Maxima Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said police were confident the drug haul was all headed for Saturday's Future Music Festival at Doomben Racecourse.
"These are 7000 people who possibly could have been affected by drugs made in backyard labs," he said.
"It's madness to put them in your body. People are compressing drugs in backyards."
Some of those charged include:
• A 26-year old man from Carina, a former member of the Bandidos CMG has been charged with supplying a dangerous drug.
• A 27-year old man from Wynnum, and associate of the Bandidos CMG, has been charged with trafficking, supplying, producing and possessing dangerous drugs and of being a vicious lawless associate under VLAD legislation.
• A 29-year old man from Bulimba has been charged with trafficking, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and of being a vicious lawless associate under VLAD legislation.
• A 27-year old man from Balmoral has been charged with trafficking, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and of being a vicious lawless sssociate under VLAD legislation.
• A 26-year old man from Coopers Plains has been charged with trafficking, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and of being a vicious lawless associate under VLAD legislation.
• A 27-year old man from Teneriffe has been charged with supplying and possessing dangerous drugs.
• A 32-year old man from Eagleby has been charged with trafficking, supplying, possessing dangerous drugs.
All are scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
