Operation Papa Wagon, Queensland Police - 2019 AB President's Award. Det. Acting Sgt. Vesna Ciric accepting her award from Stan Zoletas, NKG Management Services (Award sponsor)

Operation Papa Wagon - Organised Crime Invetsigation Unit, Queensalnd Police Service
Team Members: Det. Acting Sgt. Vesna Ciric, Det Senior Sgt Tony Bristow, Det Sgt, Gary Perrett, Det. Senior Const. Kelly Manning, Senior Sgt. Dan Kwiatkowski.

In 2016, the Organised Crime Investigation Unit of the State Crime Command, Queensland were contacted by a member of public regarding a motor dealer who was selling a 2005 Phoenix Nomad caravan through the Gumtree auction site. The caravan was a statutory written off caravan however it was registered as a 2016 homemade caravan with a new Vehicle Identification Number.

As a direct result of this information a police operation codenamed ‘Papa Wagon’ was commenced. Detective Senior Constable Vesna CIRIC was assigned the carriage of the investigation and was tasked to investigate many statutory written off caravans being brought into Queensland then sold and registered as homemade caravans. Subsequent enquires were made through the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR), Manheim and Pickles Auction Houses and target 1 was identified as being involved in the re-birthing and sale of statutory written off caravans.

The investigation identified that target 1 was purchasing the statutory written off caravans mostly from New South Wales, bringing them into Queensland, removing the original Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration plates and replacing them with the new identifiers. Target 1registered these caravans stating that he had built them out of locally sourced materials. A Review of the documents that Target 1 submitted to the DTMR for the registration of those caravans revealed that on each document Target 1 was recorded as a representative lodging the applications for the registration on the complainant’s behalf. Target 1 also provided documents stating that he built these caravans from locally sourced materials.

Police surveillance identified that the suspect caravans still had original markings on them (eg. Jayco Eagle, Coromal Seca etc)

A review of documents that Target 1 submitted with the application for the registration of each caravan had Target 1 name on it and the original model of the caravan recorded on it.

During December 2016, search warrants were executed at Target 1's home and work address and 5 suspect caravans were located. One of these caravans had been re-identified while the other four still had the original identifications on them. Many documents were seized including original purchase documents which had clearly recorded on them that the caravans were statutory written off caravans and unable to be registered in Australia. Within these documents was a stock book which contained the purchaser’s names, original make and model of the caravan.

A review of the documents seized, and documents received from the auction houses, identified that Target 1 was a Motor Dealer who had purchased 166 caravans through Manheim and Pickles Auctions or private auctions. From these 166 caravans, 107 were purchased as statutory written off caravans. Investigators identified 99 suspect caravans spread across five QLD regions and interstate.

19 – Central Region
1 – Northern Region
32 – Brisbane Region
21 – Southern Region
14 – South Eastern Region
6 – New South Wales
2 – Victoria
1 – Australian Capital Territory

Assistance from interstate and federal law enforcement agencies were utilised for the caravan’s that had been sold and transferred interstate.

Investigators were able to locate and examine 96 of these caravans, from which 93 were confirmed as statutory written off. It was estimated that the total yield for the sold caravans totalled $1,264,000.00. Investigators interviewed and obtained statements from over 140 witnesses and charged Target 1 with 102 fraud related matters. The case is currently before the Queensland District Court.

Innovative methodologies

As part of the investigative strategy, a variety of traditional, non-traditional, covert and overt actions were undertaken by Police investigators to detect and gather evidence and bring Target 1 to justice.

During the investigation a variety of methodologies used to target the offender by police were utilised however these are not able to be disclosed due to sect.803 of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, ‘Protection of Methodologies’. Further to this, the matter is currently before the Queensland courts awaiting a result.

Investigators identified that examination of the 99 caravans would incur a cost of over $200,000.00 in towing and storage fees for the QPS as well as damage to the caravans. To avoid these costs Investigators established a memorandum of understanding between the DTMR, Fair Trading Authority(FTA), owners, forensic examiners and assisting police for the
examination to be done at owner’s residences. The arrangements were made for the examinations where one officer would stay and assist the Forensic Officer, provide safety and protect methodologies while the second officer conveyed the owners away from the caravan and obtain a statement for court and seized documents relevant to the case.

Investigators further identified a government slush fund operated through the FTA whereby victims could apply to re-coup their money if defrauded by a Motor Trader within Queensland. In cooperation with the Queensland and interstate Transport Departments, arrangements were made for the registrations of those 93 caravans to be cancelled.

Operation Papa Wagon influenced separate investigations by the FTA and the Australian Taxation Office(ATO). In cooperation with the FTA arrangements were made for packages containing information about the fund to be sent to the victims for remuneration purposes.

Application of Best Practice Investigation
Operation Papa Wagon demonstrated some of the best practice investigation techniques displayed by investigators in the auto theft field and clearly showed what can be achieved through the cooperation of various Commonwealth and State Law Enforcement agencies and private enterprise to achieve a positive outcome for the community. The cooperation and communication between the stakeholders ensured all partners were aware of the risks that were impacting upon the various parties and addressed strategies and directions to manage to mitigate those risks while ensuring the success of the investigation overall.

Complexity of the investigation
The target is a Motor Dealer and he was extremely sophisticated in relation to the rebirthing and avenues for registration of the caravans. The target was very cunning and skilled in convincing potential byers that what he was doing was legal and in accordance with the policies and procedures of Transport Departments.

The investigation was very complex extending across five Queensland police regions and jurisdictions in New South Wales, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory. Investigators were required to travel interstate and intrastate, to examine the caravans, interview witnesses and collect evidence. The operation was staffed by one full time investigator (Detective Senior Constable Vesna CIRIC) and sourced assistance from police jurisdictions including State Crime Command, Queensland regional police, interstate law enforcement agencies including New South Wales Police, Victorian Police and the Australian Federal Police.

Queensland Police Service had limited qualified vehicle examiners and had to compete with the priorities for qualified forensic officers to conduct the examination of those caravans. Arrangements were made for the assistance to be obtained from Regional and interstate vehicle examiners to expedite the forensic examination of the caravans. With the assistance rendered it still required over 12 months to complete the investigation.

During the Operation the suspect was identified as attempting to leave Australia. An operational decision was made and the suspect was arrested and taken off an international flight.

Investigators also had to manage complainants/witnesses from different backgrounds whose ages ranged from 20 to 95 years old, providing regular updates of the investigation, registration status and court process. This was a massive challenge for the investigators with 93 irate victims who could no longer use their caravans. The complainants were professionally managed with no complaints received. Cooperation and involvement of multiple agencies to achieve a result in the fight against auto crime.

Operation Papa Wagon demonstrated how cooperation between different states and National Law Enforcement Agencies (New South Wales Police, Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police) can improve the ability to detect, investigate, restrain assets and suppress targets which otherwise would not have been able to be done in such an effective manner and with outstanding results.

As a direct result of the thorough and professional investigation by Detective Senior Constable CIRIC during Operation Papa Wagon, exceptional results were achieved, the rebirthing of the statutory written off caravans by the target were stopped and new procedures are in place preventing the re-occurrence of this by other motor traders.

Operation Papa Wagon directly influenced the widespread review of DTMR practices and changes to the requirements for the issue of new Vehicle Identification Numbers. It also resulted in the tightening the registration of written off vehicles to ensure they are not easily accessible by criminally minded motor traders.

Operation Wagon had influenced and assisted Fair Trading Australia in conducting a separate investigation into dealings of the target as a Motor Dealer with intention to stop him operating. Operation Wagon had also influenced and assisted Australian Taxation Office in conducting a separate investigation in relation to the targets taxation fraud offences.

During the Operation investigators liaised, conducted enquires and obtained assistance of other agencies including Manheim and Pickles Auctions, private auction houses, Gumtree, Ebay, New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services, VicRoads Victoria, Access Canberra, ACT, Suncorp, Allianz, IAG, QBE, RACQ, WFI and YOUI Insurance companies to locate, identify, gather evidence. Expert analysis and examination of documents was also comprehensively and meticulously conducted to ensure a successful outcome for prosecution in court.