Black Power bikies busted in Victorian raids

Anti-bikie detectives targeting the Black Power gang have arrested four men and seized cocaine, cannabis, cash and weapons.

Four men have been arrested in a police operation aimed at the violent Black Power outlaw motorcycle gang.

Echo Taskforce detectives seized cocaine, cannabis, cash and weapons in a series of raids on Thursday and Friday.

Those arrested were members of Black Power or associates.

Black Power started in New Zealand but has gained a foothold in Melbourne in recent years.

Police believe former Rebels boss Ray Elise, who has been deported to New Zealand, was recruiting members from the young Melbourne base of Black Power.

Investigators this morning executed warrants on properties in the western suburbs at Melton, Thornhill Park and Melton West and Teesdale, near Geelong.

They arrested a Melton man, 28, who has been charged with possessing cannabis, trafficking cannabis, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possessing a prohibited weapon.

That man, a patched OMCG member, was expected to face Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Cannabis and a baton were allegedly found at his house.

A 29-year-old Thornhill Park man was also arrested and will be interviewed over to drug offences after cannabis was found at his home.

On Thursday, homes at Harkness, southeast of Melbourne and Fraser Rise in the west were raided.

A 26-year-old Harkness man was charged with trafficking cocaine, possessing cocaine, trafficking cannabis, possessing cannabis, possessing MDMA, possessing prescription medication, possessing the proceeds of crime and possessing a prohibited weapon.

He was remanded in custody to face Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on September 9.

A 30-year-old Fraser Rise man was charged with drug and proceeds of crime offences and bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on February 24.

Detective Insp. Graham Banks of the Echo taskforce said the force was putting scrutiny on traditional and newer OMCGs.

“These are groups who are historically linked to immense community harm through criminality such as drug trafficking and manufacture, as well as the use of illicit firearms,” Insp. Banks said.

“While we have a number of well-established OMCGs, we also work to target the offending of those emerging groups and disrupt their activities as soon as we possibly can.”

Police recently told a court Black Power members committed home invasions, ran drugs and guns and committed drive-by shootings at the bequest of their seniors in the Rebels.

The evidence was given at a court hearing for 25-year-old Black Power member Jadyn Kelly, who was facing charges of aggravated home invasion.

He and four other men are accused of breaking into a Cobblebank home and bashing a man in front of his family.