Nomad bikie presidents charged after raids unveil guns, cash and drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars

Guns, cash and drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars have been seized in bikie raids and two chapter presidents have been charged.

Four members of the Nomad outlaw motorcycle club – including two chapter presidents – have been arrested after SA Police cracked down on their alleged drug trafficking operation.

An ongoing police investigation called Operation Leo led to addresses in Adelaide’s eastern and northern suburbs being searched on April 23.

Crime gangs taskforce detectives and STAR operation members found and seized about $160,000 cash, 11 firearms, about 800g of methamphetamine worth $800,000 and 700g of heroin worth $700,000.

Four members of the Nomad bikie gang, including two chapter presidents, have been arrested and charged after police raided seven properties. Picture: SA Police

About $160,000 cash, 11 firearms, $800,000 worth of methamphetamine and $700,000 worth of heroin were seized. Picture: SA Police

Five vehicles, four Harley Davidson motorcycles and a jet ski were also confiscated.

It was discovered that a hidden, purpose-built compartment was used in one of the vehicles that police allege contained about 80g of methamphetamine and more than $9000 in cash.

According to SA Police, the group’s offending happened between December 2020 and April 2021.

Three men – a 30-year-old from Highbury, a 40-year-old from Glynde and a 47-year-old from Payneham – were arrested and charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and firearm offences.

They were refused bail and appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court last Tuesday where they were remanded to reappear in August.

The fourth man, from Modbury North, was also charged with money laundering and was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Several vehicles, including Harley Davidson motorbikes and a jetski, were also confiscated. Picture: SA Police

Serious and Organised Crime Branch officer in charge Detective Superintendent Stephen Taylor said it was “very significant” that the east-side and Adelaide CBD chapter presidents had been charged.

Since the gang’s inception in SA in 2014-15, he said it didn’t “have a good history” as eight members, including the then president, were arrested and charged with serious offences, including aggravated blackmail and extortion offences.

“It’s another example of the nexus between motorcycle outlaw gangs and criminality,” Superintendent Taylor said.

“We’ve seen a resurgence again with the Nomad motorcycle gang here with 12 members in total.

“They’re again trying to establish their foothold, so I’d imagine that two presidents being arrested and charged on serious matters would have an impact.”

Detective Superintendent Stephen Taylor said having two chapter presidents charged was ‘very significant’. Picture: Russell Millard

Superintendent Taylor said getting any drug off the streets was pleasing.

“Here we have two chapter presidents (allegedly) dealing in probably the worst two drug categories you can get – one destroys lives and the other takes lives,” he said.

“The bikie gangs we see now are nothing like the gangs used to be. Now it’s all organised crime. It’s about money, wealth, power by whatever means available.”

Operation Leo was launched in December last year to target key players within the Nomad bikie group.