NSW’s Raptor Squad and Victoria police arrest 27 after major operation targeting bikie gangs
Finks, Black Uhlans and Rebels bikies have been targeted in a major cross-border police operation that has seen dozens of people arrested. Watch video footage of the raids.
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The state’s gang busting Raptor squad has gatecrashed the illegal operations of bikies on both sides of the Victorian border, swarming clubhouses and seizing drugs, weapons and ammunition.
The week-long operation involving NSW and Victorian Police, which saw the arrest of 27 people, is a warning that specialised police will not stop until they dismantle organised crime in regional areas.
State Crime Command Director of Crime Operations, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein, said the operation also helped squad members to gain a greater understanding of the OMCG footprint at the NSW-Victorian border.
“Cross-border crime is ever present in our society, with the attraction of the drug trade pushing organised criminal figures out of the city and into regional towns, believing they are safe from being targeted and out of constant law enforcement attention,” Detective Chief Superintendent Weinstein said.
“This couldn’t be further from the truth – particularly with the establishment of our Raptor South Squad, we continue to gather intelligence and information about what groups are active and their activities, which are potentially linked to organised crime.
“Raptor South officers have the local knowledge base of the Riverina and border communities, working closely with Victoria Police’s VIPER Taskforce to become even more well-equipped to deal with any organised criminal activity moving forward.
“We will continue to roll out these cross-border operations and work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to further prevent, disrupt and respond to organised crime in our state,” Detective Chief Superintendent Weinstein said.
NSW Police conducted 24 Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) searches, served 18 FPOs, made 19 arrests and seized three firearms and amounts of ammunition.
Victoria Police seized one firearm and eight prohibited weapons and arrested eight people.
In Gundagai a 67-year-old man was issued with an FPO after a search at a rear shed allegedly unearthed a large amount of Rebels OMCG paraphernalia, fridges with alcohol and a cash register.
In North Albury a 37-year-old man was served an FPO after police allegedly located a gel blaster, ammunition, Finks OMCG paraphernalia, electronic devices, and a Harley Davidson – believed to be stolen. All items were seized for forensic examination.
And in Albury Raptor South searched a clubhouse for the Black Uhlans OMCG.
Victoria Police’s Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly said while it was the first time Viper and Raptor police had partnered up, “it certainly won’t be the last”.
“If you are involved in organised criminal activity, you will be detected and you will be held accountable, irrespective of a state border,” he said.
“The message is simple: if you are involved in serious and or organised crime, we will be unrelenting in our mission to disrupt your activities and protect our community.”
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