Police warn organised crime groups trying to move into regional towns like Bairnsdale to think again

The Finks bikie gang has set up a clubhouse and recruited local residents in Bairnsdale, raising concerns from police about the use of fear and intimidation in the region.

A push by the Finks bikie gang into east Gippsland has hit major resistance from police.

The international OMCG quietly moved into the Bairnsdale area in the past year, recruiting locals and setting up a clubhouse in the tiny nearby town of Lindenow.

Known as the Kalimna chapter, it was one of the properties visited by police in a special operation this week in which drugs, weapons and a stolen motorcycle were seized.

Local Finks members have been paying regular fees to the Melbourne arm of the outfit, which is led by president Koshan Radford, for the right to wear the gang’s colours.

Police had become increasingly concerned about the use of fear and intimidation associated with having the OMCG in the area, including a frightening recent road-rage incident.

Finks bikie boss Kosh Radford is in charge of the Melbourne arm of the outfit. Picture, Darren Leigh Roberts

The Herald Sun has been told the traditional points to becoming a patched member have been waived in the hunt to boost Fink numbers in East Gippsland.

The newcomers are believed to have been bypassing the customary nominee and prospect stages to be brought on board.

The Finks are believed to be eyeing other country areas and have a presence in the state’s southwest.

Members at Bairnsdale were last week targeted by investigators in a firearms prohibition order operation.

It involved detectives from the Wellington and east Gippsland investigations and response units, the VIPER and Echo task forces and the eastern region crime squad.

The Finks have quietly moved into the Bairnsdale area in the past year.

Seven new FPOs, which ban the holder from possessing a weapon and leave them open to be searched without a warrant, were served.

Another 16 FPO compliance checks were made on members and others with a history of serious violent offending.

A 20-year-old Bairnsdale man was charged with methylamphetamine trafficking after he was allegedly caught with an amount worth about $5000.

Also seized was 500 grams of cannabis, Xanax, steroids, a motorcycle, weapons and cash.

Detective Sen-Sgt Leigh Howse of VIPER said organised crime groups trying to move into regional towns like Bairnsdale should think again.

“Local police and specialist units such as VIPER will continue to make the lives of anyone seeking to profit from serious criminal activity as difficult as possible,” he said.

“VIPER Task force will continue to show up unannounced on these people’s doorsteps, pull them over on the roads, and arrive at their clubhouses uninvited.”

FPO breaches carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

More than 1600 have been imposed since they were introduced in Victoria in 2018 to combat gun crime.

Acting Insp. Mark Rossiter said FPOs were a powerful tool for investigators.

“Any person subject to a FPO considering possessing a firearm is playing a very dangerous game of roulette. Victoria Police is regularly performing compliance checks on these people and if caught, the consequences are severe,” acting Insp. Rossiter said.