Six people have been charged with a total of 40 offences following a police investigation into hooning activity on Gateway Bridge on New Year’s Eve, with authorities seizing 13 vehicles during the operation.
Queensland Police allege several vehicles blocked northbound lanes of the Gateway Motorway at Murarrie around 11.50pm on 31 December 2025, where a group performed burnouts and let off fireworks before fleeing the scene prior to police arrival.
Detective Acting Inspector Sean Webster from North Brisbane District said the behaviour captured on social media footage posed serious risks to both participants and the wider community.
“Police will not tolerate driving dangerous acts of this nature,” Detective Acting Inspector Webster said in a statement released by Queensland Police Service on 20 January 2026.
He noted that footage showed people hanging out of cars while burnouts were being performed, describing the conduct as “very dangerous”.
Multi-region operation launched
In response to the incident, police established Operation Yankee Reacher, a multi-region policing operation led by Brisbane City Criminal Investigation Branch with support from CIBs, Highway Patrol and Tactical Crime Squads across South East Queensland.
Investigators executed multiple search warrants at addresses across Alexandra Hills, Caboolture, Daisy Hill, Ebbw Vale, Ellen Grove, Kingston, Logan Village, Ormeau, Waterford and Waterford West.
The 13 seized vehicles included a black Ford utility and multiple Ford Falcons in various colours. Police believe nine of the vehicles were involved in the New Year’s Eve incident, while three were allegedly stolen vehicles discovered during a search warrant at a Logan Reserve Road address in Waterford West. One vehicle was allegedly used in a separate hooning incident.
Charges and court appearances
The six people charged range in age from 16 to 52 years old and face various offences including dangerous operation of a vehicle, participating in hooning group activity, and driving unregistered and uninsured vehicles.
Three teenagers aged 16, 18 and 19 have been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle involving publishing material on social media, among other offences.
A 52-year-old Logan Village man faces weapons charges after police allegedly found an unregistered air rifle and rifle during a search warrant at his property. He is expected to appear before Beaudesert Magistrates Court on 3 February.
Additionally, two 21-year-old men from Logan Village and Daisy Hill have been issued with traffic infringement notices totalling fines and demerit points for offences including wilfully starting or driving a vehicle in a way that makes unnecessary noise or smoke, and spectating without reasonable excuse in hooning group activity.
Further arrests anticipated
Detective Acting Inspector Webster confirmed investigations remain ongoing and police anticipate further arrests.
“We hope this sends a clear message that hooning and that sort of dangerous driving is unacceptable and is something that police take seriously,” he said, according to a report published by ABC News on 20 January 2026.
Police have urged anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV that may assist enquiries to contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The enforcement action forms part of ongoing operations to detect and deter dangerous driving behaviours, building on Operation Xray Antler and day-to-day police activities focused on road safety.
Published 20-January-2026
