Drugs and guns unearthed in a series of raids in Geelong

The homes of bikies and violent criminals in the Geelong area have been targeted in a series of raids, with drugs, guns and other weapons allegedly found.

A series of police raids have unearthed guns and drugs.

Violent criminals including bikies, armed robbers and gunmen have been caught up in a major sweep of raids in the Geelong area.

Thirty homes have been searched by police in the past fortnight to check whether targets have been complying with firearms prohibition orders.

Eighteen people were charged and four firearms, including a shotgun and double barrel shotgun, were seized.

Another five imitation firearms, including a handgun, and ammunition were confiscated as well as 21 prohibited weapons including tasers, flick knives, a cattle prod, an extendible baton, laser pointer, slingshots and knuckledusters.

Cocaine, methanphtemaine, ecstasy and narcotic plants were also found by investigators, as well as $100,000 in stolen goods, including motorcycles, camper vans and identity cards.

Many of those raided were members of or associates of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Armed robbers and offenders convicted of shootings were among others.

Six new FPOs were served on serious and violent offenders amid the action.

The raids formed part of Operation Shield, co-ordinated by the Geelong Firearms Prohibition Team and also involved members of the Echo taskforce, armed crime squad, the public order response team, the illicit firearms unit, the dog squad, Geelong CIU and local family violence detectives.

Detective acting Sergeant Brendan O’Mahoney of the firearms team said others on FPOs could expect scrutiny in the future.

“We make absolutely no apologies for regularly checking on those people within our community who police have deemed are too dangerous to possess a firearm,” he said.

“There are serious potential repercussions associated with breaching an FPO, with a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.

“If those subject to an active FPO are willing to roll the dice by possessing a firearm or ammunition and think they won’t get caught, they should think again.”

“We will continue to run regular operations such as this to seize firearms and other weapons from violent and dangerous people, ensuring Geelong’s streets are safe and we avoid the tragedies resulting from gun crime.”

Firearms prohibition orders were introduced by the State Government in an attempt to curb the level of gun crime in Victoria.

They allow for, among other things, police searches of homes, business and vehicles to be made without a warrant.

The orders ban individuals from buying, possessing or using a firearm or accessories under threat of up to 10 years in jail.