During raids on members of criminal motorcycle gangs, police have recovered guns, illegal weapons, narcotics, and an embarrassing family-style Christmas card.
The goods were reportedly discovered during a multi-day operation throughout NSW’s mid-north coast, a 400 km stretch from Port Stephens to Woolgoolga, in the hands of Bandidos and Finks motorcycle gang members (OMCGs).
Police conducted 14 Firearm Prohibition Order searches on suspected members of the local bikie gang during “Operation Luna” between Saturday am and Monday afternoon.
A image of Bandidos gang members uncomfortably posed in front of a body of water with the words “Merry Christmas 2020” written in red was among the strangest objects collected.
The bikies, who were all wearing Bandidos vests, peered intently at the camera. Some stood with their hands by their sides, while others cautiously embraced each other.
Two guns, a number of illegal weapons, including a taser and handcuffs, as well as a quantity of illegal substances and steroids were also recovered by the officers.
One individual was charged with drug possession and reckless driving, while another was given a summons to appear in court for illegal weapon possession.
Seven infringement notices were issued as a consequence of the traffic enforcement work the police did and the 23 consorting warnings they issued.
The purpose of the extensive raids, which were led by the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad with cooperation from the Mid North Coast Police District, was to obstruct OMCG activities.
Outlaw bikie gangs will continue to be the focus of police enforcement, according to Criminal Groups Squad Detective Chief Inspector Nick Read.
The goal of this operation, according to Mr. Read, was to obtain information while interfering with these organizations’ activities.
It also conveys the message that we will keep going after these gangs and that we’ll utilize the data obtained over the course of the three days to organize operations in other parts of New South Wales.
We’ve identified a number of fresh targets, and we’ll keep working to find, stop, and stop significant criminal conduct.
Bikies are a high focus, according to Detective Superintendent Shane Cribb, commander of the Mid North Coast Police District, and gang members are receiving “substantial” resources.
If you follow a lifestyle that is at variance with the majority of the population, Mr. Cribb warned, “you may anticipate the substantial resources of the police force to be flung at you until such time as you part ways with a lifestyle at odds with the greater community.”
Targeting anti-social OMCG behavior continues to be a primary priority for police districts all along the north coast, and law enforcement continues to monitor these organizations with the same amount of vigilance as any major city.