Bikies who are linked to ripping off ATO and Centrelink are being targeted in a police crackdown

Police have got new powers to track bikies’ cash to expose the white collar crimes they commit as they make dirty cash in organised crime networks. Listen to the Bikies Inc podcast.

Bikies who rip off Centrelink and the tax office are being targeted in a police crackdown, amid calls for new national unexplained wealth laws.

Outlaw motorcycle gangs are making millions from drug dealing, but have also been linked to white collar crime.

Police are now increasingly looking at bikies’ cash, amid calls for new laws to be introduced that would force them to explain how they earned their money.

Western Australia already has laws where bikies must prove how they earned the money to pay for their luxury properties and high performance cars.

Similar laws are currently before the New South Wales parliament.

Deb Wallace, a retired NSW police officer who ran the anti-bikie Strike Force Raptor squad, said unexplained wealth laws would be a crucial tool for police.

“What are they about? It’s all about money, it’s not about brotherhood any more so they should look at this,” Ms Wallace said.

Deb Wallace pictured at Cabramatta PCYC talking to local 'at risk' youths about the dangers of becoming involved or associated with criminal gangs. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We look at the laws in Western Australia, they’re best practice. We’ve seen bikies with the McMansions in their 80 year old parents’ name – under these laws the onus of proof is on them to explain it.”

It comes as Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Peter Brigham, head of the anti-gangs squad, told the Bikies Inc podcast there was a national approach to following the money.

“We know that people that are involved in some of those clubs are involved in multiple different types of criminality that might even include Centrelink fraud,” he said.

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“They’re overrepresented in those types of things, and they’re largely represented in tax evasion.

“We know that that goes with the territory of, you know, if you’re a bikie, that’s one of the things that we know that they often know and it’s part of hiding their wealth as well.”

Police in Victoria are also taking guns out of the hands of bikies under tough new laws to prevent mistaken identity killings.

A Comanchero bikie remains a key suspect in the murders of 22-year-old Mohamed Yucel in Keysborough and 26-year-old Zabi Ezedyar in Narre Warren in 2017.

The Comanchero fled overseas and was believed to have spent time in Turkey, where former Comanchero president Mark Buddle was fighting being returned to Australia.

Victoria’s strict gun controls have resulted in a plunge in gang related shootings, with police given the power to search homes and vehicles whenever they suspect a person may have a weapon.

Strike Force Raptor officers seized these guns in raids in NSW. Police: NSW Police

The laws allow police to issue Firearm Prohibition Orders, specifically targeting illegal, unregistered weapons, which would not be picked up under normal checks.

“It allows police to act to say, well, you know, if we had information that a feud was erupting that we could go out and actually search people,” Detective Superintendent Peter Brigham said.

Zabi Ezedyar who was gunned down in Narre Warren. Picture: Supplied

Muhamed Yucel, who was also killed. Picture: Victoria Police

“One of the OMCG presidents was found in possession of a loaded handgun that was located during an FPO search. So it’s like illegal guns. And so outlaw motorcycle gangs have a very strong connection.”

Bikie related shootings plunged after the laws were introduced in 2018, with almost 1500 orders slapped on bikies and organised crime figures.

A Thureon fully automatic assault rifle, which can fire up to 1000 rounds per minute, was among the guns taken off the streets.

Those hit with the orders face 10 years jail if they are caught with a gun.

However, in recent months, shootings have increased with the attempt on the life of Sam Adbulrahim, who was shot six times at a funeral in Melbourne’s north.

Originally published as Bikies who are linked to ripping off ATO and Centrelink are being targeted in a police crackdown