Australian Federal Police launch new strike teams targeting Gold Coast organised crime as part of $170m federal funding boost
Australia’s top cop has put Gold Coast bikies on notice, warning of tough new measures cracking down on drug and firearm trafficking is within “striking distance” of their illegal operations.
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AUSTRALIA’S top cop has put Gold Coast bikies on notice, warning a new specialist task force targeting organised crime is within “striking distance” of their illegal operations.
It follows a $170 million Australian Federal Police funding boost by the federal government expanding agency resources including the launch of two new strike force teams.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews joined AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw and Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan at Bilinga on Monday, saying 120 officers nationwide would immediately begin targeting transnational, serious and organised crime groups.
An east coast strike team will have a presence in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney while a second team will run operations in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.
Commissioner Kershaw said: “We move to where the crime is and unfortunately in the Gold Coast here, we know there is outlaw motorcycle gangs and other criminal entities that operate from here and set up base here.”
Trafficking of drugs, firearms and money laundering by outlaw motorcycle gangs, mafia groups and triads will be top of AFP’s hit list during the crackdown.
“We are mapping out these networks and we are coming after them,” he said. “We’ll go after the logistics, we’ll go after their financing and after their communications and we’ll dismantle these networks.”
Minister for Home Affairs @karenandrewsmp speaks with media about a new AFP taskforce set to combat organised crime on the Gold Coast @GCBulletinpic.twitter.com/BaXpKXYjgb
— Kaitlyn Smith (@kaitlynsmthnews) April 4, 2022
Officers will be granted increased powers to seize criminal assets purchased with profits of crime, liquidate them, and reinvest the proceeds into local communities.
“We all know criminals despise it when we not only take away their freedom, but also their assets paid for by crime,” Commissioner Kershaw said.
“Whether it’s property, cash, crypto currency or vehicles, jewellery or high-end handbags, if it is paid with proceeds of crime it is within the reach of the AFP.”
Asked if there were concerns of a bikie war similar to 2013, the commissioner said officers “will be ready,” working alongside Queensland Police to ensure public safety.
“When it comes to profiteering, (gangs) are happy to work with each other, their arch enemies, which goes to show some of the values these bikies have, which is none.”
“That’s why illicit trafficking of firearms is very critical to us, to make sure we can identify those groups and take them out.”
Those guilty of trafficking firearms faced mandatory minimum sentencing under the Criminal Code Amendment (Firearms Trafficking) Bill 2022, Ms Andrews said.
“The Bill increased the maximum penalty for firearms trafficking from 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment and, under a separate aggravated offence for the most serious of traffickers, offenders will face up to life imprisonment,’ she said.
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