Sydney bikies flocking to South East Asia as clubhouses shut down in NSW
MORE than four dozen outlaw motor cycle gang clubhouses have been shut down by Strike Force Raptor since 2012, forcing Hells Angels, Rebels, Bandidos and Commanchero members to take drastic measures. Now it looks like they’ve moved to an unexpected place.
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- Six Aussie Hells Angels on run after in Thailand
- New laws make it easier for police to tackle bikie crime
MORE than four dozen outlaw motor cycle gang (OMCG) clubhouses have been shut down by Strike Force Raptor since 2012, with Hells Angels, Rebels, Bandidos and Commanchero members moving operations to South East Asia to avoid police scrutiny.
A recent investigation by News Corp Australia found evidence of 36 Australian-led or affiliated OMCG chapters in Thailand alone, with popular tourist resort cities of Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok playing host to the clubhouses.
Here are the NSW bikie clubhouses that have been closed by Strike force Raptor:
Officials from the AFP warned police chiefs from across South East Asia that OMCGs from Australia were shifting operations to the country to escape heavy police attention during an annual AFP-led forum on crime trends in the region last year.
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The Royal Thai Police listened, with six Australian Hells Angels bikers now believed to be on the run in Thailand after being branded ‘undesirables’ and having their visas revoked.
Authorities allege the group were involved in transnational drugs trafficking, standover tactics, weapons possession and money laundering.
An AFP spokesman said it was aware that six suspected Australian OMCG members had their immigration visas revoked by Thai authorities and said the agency would continue to work with law enforcement from the region.
“A significant number of Australian OMCG members have attempted or will continue to attempt to move their operations offshore to escape Australian law enforcement efforts and globalise their criminal activities,” the spokesman told The Daily Telegraph.
“However, the AFP continues to share intelligence and expertise with its overseas partner agencies to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal syndicates impacting on Australia, wherever they are based.”
The news comes as the state announced new tough-on-crime laws earlier this week aimed at further disrupting criminal syndicates in NSW.
Beefed-up powers will allow police to search anyone on site during raids on outlaw motorcycle gang clubhouses, while also forcing them reveal their name and address.
Police Minister Troy Grant said the reforms would help police identify suspects, gather evidence and seize dangerous firearms and weapons.
“There is no room in NSW for outlaw bikies, who will continue to be hounded by the police until they leave the state or find a new, legal hobby,” he said.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
► CHAPTER ONE: Inside the squad that beat Sydney’s gangs
► CHAPTER TWO: The real-life police fight club
► CHAPTER THREE: The day bikies went too far
► CHAPTER FOUR: Bikie gangs: Warlords of the underworld
Originally published as Sydney bikies flocking to South East Asia as clubhouses shut down in NSW