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Rock Machine bikie gang’s president and secretary arrested by SA police, drugs and gun seized

The president and secretary of a dangerous new bikie gang were arrested on Friday during raids across Adelaide, with police seized nearly 2kg of drugs and a loaded handgun.

Adelaide bikie crackdown

The president and secretary of a dangerous new outlaw motorcycle gang have been arrested in connection with almost 2kg of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.

Detectives from the Crime Gangs task force have identified Rock Machine as an emerging group in the South Australian underworld.

The group, which originated in Canada, has chapters around the world and was a part of the Quebec bikie war that lasted almost a decade and left more than 170 bodies in its wake.

However, detectives believe they have already made a dent in the gang’s hierarchy after raiding two houses on Friday.

Rock Machine Australia’s logo.
Rock Machine Australia’s logo.

A house on Greentree Blvd in Paralowie was raided on Friday morning.

Detectives located 250g of methamphetamine and arrested a 28-year-old man. He was charged with trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and was bailed to appear in court in October.

Later in the day police raided a house on The Ave in Athol Park, locating 1.5kg of methamphetamine and a loaded Glock handgun.

A 40-year-old man was subsequently arrested at the Showgrounds over the find. He was interviewed by police and charged with firearm and trafficking.

He was refused bail and and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Fisher, from SOCB’s Crime Gangs Task Force said both men were members of Rock Machine.

He said the seizures were not related to the recent bikie feud across Adelaide, which involved firebombings and shootings.

The meth seized during the raid on Rock Machine members. Picture: SAPOL
The meth seized during the raid on Rock Machine members. Picture: SAPOL
The gun seized by police during a raid on new bikie gang Rock Machine in Adelaide. Picture: SAPOL
The gun seized by police during a raid on new bikie gang Rock Machine in Adelaide. Picture: SAPOL

“The person for Paralowie is the secretary of that group and the person from Athol Park is the president,” he said,

“While these incidents are not linked the recent tit-for-tat incidents between gangs which we are investigating, we want to make it very clear that we will continue to target all OMCG and their associates.

“Violent crime and illegal activity by these groups will not be tolerated.”

He said a number of smaller bikie gangs were trying to make inroads into South Australia.

However, he would not go into details on whether Rock Machine had absorbed members of the Mongols or other gangs recently the target of police investigations.

MORE TO COME

Adelaide's afternoon news update — August 30, 2019

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/law-order/drugs-gun-seized-at-paralowie-and-athol-park-amid-police-investigation-into-outlaw-bikies/news-story/77b0416ab4b265bb0fa77f240bf84347