Two Melbourne Hells Angels bosses will be kicked out of Australia
Two Melbourne Hells Angels bosses have been dramatically arrested as part of a major nationwide sting on outlaw motorcycle gangs. The senior bikies will be deported. SEE THE VIDEO
Police & Courts
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Two Melbourne Hells Angels bosses will be booted from Australia following massive nationwide raids.
The senior bikies, both from New Zealand, were detained in Werribee and Narre Warren South on Wednesday.
Vision released by police shows the Werribee bikie wearing nothing but underwear as he was put into a divvy van by two Special Operation Group officers.
The Department of Home Affairs cancelled both of the bikies’ visas based on character grounds.
Both gang members were taken into detention and will be deported back to New Zealand.
The dramatic arrests formed part of the National Day of Action targeting the dangerous outlaw motorcycle gang.
It involved 28 coordinated raids across the country, resulting in the seizure of firearms, ammunition, cash, drugs including methylamphetamine, cocaine, steroids and 30L of GHB.
Veteran Melbourne Hells Angel Peter “Skitzo” Hewat and Stephen “Stiffy” Rogers were both served with Firearm Prohibition Orders as part of the operation.
Mr Hewat, a longstanding figure in the heavy haulage industry, is a former sergeant-at-arms with the Angels.
The 65-year-old has long been connected with the chapter based at Technical Drive, Craigieburn, which was searched on Tuesday.
A truck seized by investigators is believed to have been linked to Hewat.
Both Rogers and Hewat were founding members of the gang’s East County chapter.
Police also raided a Beaconsfield Upper property where a firearm and ammunition was seized from a 40-year-old bikie who had his firearm license suspended.
Ammunition and cannabis was also seized at a Yarra Glen property linked to a 58-year-old gang member.
He is expected to be charged on summons with firearms and drug offences.
Both Hells Angels clubhouses in Thomastown and Campbellfield were raided by police.
Alcohol was seized from both clubhouses and three men are expected to be charged with liquor licensing offences.
Law enforcement officers from every mainland state and New Zealand were involved in the operation.
Victoria Police Commander Mick Frewen said police in Victoria were focused on sending a strong message that police are actively targeting the criminal activities of this group.
“This is a group we know have traditionally been involved in violent crimes such as shootings, assaults, arson, drug trafficking, extortion and intimidation,” Cmdr Frewen said.
“We’ve used a number of enforcement tools this week, including working with a number of federal agencies, to put a stop to the harm these people are doing to our community here in Victoria.
“It’s important that criminal organisations such as the Hells Angels are held accountable for their criminal actions and this week shows that police will actively work to disrupt their activities.”
Detective Suptr Jason McArthur of the AFP national anti-gangs squad said OMCG’s were violent and organised criminal networks who regarded themselves as above the law.
“They are not families or a ‘brotherhood’. The Hells Angels – like every other bikie gang – is trying to recruit new members and associates only to facilitate its criminal ventures and make money,” he said.
“Outlaw motorcycle gangs’ operations are not restricted by state or international borders, which is why the AFP established the National Anti-Gangs Squad with state and territory police, the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian
Criminal Intelligence Commission, to work with all of our partners in a co-ordinated approach to fight gang-related crime.”