Rebels bikies arrested in Mildura police operation

Two alleged Rebels bikie members have been arrested over drugs and illegal firearms following a police operation in Mildura. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Two alleged Rebels bikie gang members have been arrested following a two-day police operation in Mildura.

The anti-bikie and firearms squads carried out firearms checks on 28 properties on Tuesday and Wednesday seizing guns, prohibited weapons and drugs.

Eleven people were arrested over firearms, explosives and drug charges, including a man police allege is a Rebels sergeant at arms.

Another man from Irymple who police allege is a patched member of the gang was also arrested over firearms, drug and explosive charges.

Those arrested include:

A 36-year-old Irymple man, who police allege is a Rebels sergeant at arms, charged with possess cannabis and possess proceeds of crime;

A 45-year-old Mildura man charged with non-prohibited person possessing handgun. He faced Mildura Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment;

A 33-year-old Irymple man, who is an alleged patched member of the Rebels OMCG, charged with possess cannabis, possess firearm related item when firearm prohibition order applies, possess ammunition, possess prohibited weapon and possess explosive;

A 35-year-old Mildura man charged with prohibited person possess imitation firearm and possess explosive substance without excuse;

A 31-year-old Mildura man charged with non prohibited person possess imitation firearm;

A 34-year-old Mildura man charged with FPO fail to surrender firearm related item on service and possess cannabis;

A 27-year-old Colignan man charged with FPO fail to surrender firearm related item on service, possess cannabis and possess explosive substance;

A 28-year-old Mildura man charged with fail to surrender on service in relation to two firearms and possess firearm in breach of order;

A 45-year-old Mildura man charged with possess cannabis and possess prohibited weapon;

A 30 year-old Mildura man charged with cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis; and

A 31-year-old Mildura woman was issued with a cannabis caution.

Police seized a number of items including two guns, three imitation guns, gun parts, ammunition, illegal weapons including swords, nunchucks and a taser, cash, drugs, illegal fireworks and an explosive device.

Seventeen firearm prohibition orders were also issued as part of the operation.

Detective Senior Sergeant Leigh Howse said offenders in regional Victoria shouldn’t expect to go under the radar.

“We can and will target you, and we make no apologies for that,” he said.

“To be able to seize weapons today is also a pleasing result for both police and the broader Mildura community.”

The firearms squad, along with detectives from the Echo Taskforce, Western Region Crime Squad, Mildura Crime Investigation Unit, Dog Squad and the Australian Federal Police’s National Anti-Gangs Squad were involved in the operation.

[e-mail]