Police dismantle Notorious bikie gang

1700 bikies have been arrested and more than 3800 charges laid during a three-year operation that also dismantled the Notorious outlaw motorcycle gang. The NSW Police Gang's Squad launched Strike Force Raptor in March 2009 in response to escalating violence between rival bikie gangs. Police say a total of 1696 people were arrested and charged with 3857 offences including riot and affray, assault causing grievous bodily harm, assaulting police and manufacturing prohibited drugs. Also seized were 387 firearms, $2.2 million in cash and numerous illegal drugs, while four clandestine laboratories were put out of business. Police say the Notorious gang, responsible for many public shootings and other criminal activities, was also dismantled as a direct result of their operations. "This has been a highly-successful operation and the results demonstrate the need for us to keep the pressure on outlaw motorcycle gangs and their associates," commander of the Gangs Squad, Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, said in a statement.

Bikie feud breaks out in Queensland

Police fear an escalation of a battle between two rival outlaw motorcycle gangs in southeast Queensland. They believe vicious assaults at a Brisbane tattoo studio and a locksmith on Thursday are part of a feud between members of rival bikie gangs, the Hells Angels and the Bandidos. The Morningside tattoo shop and East Brisbane locksmith were targeted by five men with baseball bats in back-to-back attacks carried out over half an hour from 4pm (AEST). Four men were assaulted and both stores, which are linked to the Hells Angels, were damaged. On Tuesday, a Bandidos tattoo studio on the Gold Coast was targeted in a drive-by attack, while a car linked to the same gang was set alight in Brisbane. Police believe all four incidents are linked and have launched an operation that spans three southeast Queensland police districts. They've arranged to meet with senior members of the Hells Angels and Bandidos, though they admit they've so far had limited cooperation. "At this stage it is our interpretation that it is a localised dispute, and ... we are very concerned that this may escalate," Detective-Inspector Garry Watts told reporters in Brisbane on Friday. Police say the battle is not linked to a tit-for-tat war between outlaw motorcycle clubs in Sydney. Nor were two gun-related incidents in Brisbane's north on Thursday linked to the same gang hostilities, they say. A man suffered a minor shoulder injury after shots were fired outside a house in Kallangur around 3.30pm (AEST). About 9.15pm (AEST), shots were fired at an address at Everton Hills in an incident believed to be linked to a third motorcycle gang, the Gypsy Jokers. Police moved to allay fears that members of the public could be harmed. "We don't believe that the general public are at risk at this time," Detective Chief Superintendent Gayle Hogan said. Police are investigating a number of theories about how the war started, including a report that the bashing of a Hells Angel member was the catalyst.

Raids may link to shootings and motorcycle gangs

PROPERTIES in St Marys and Blackett were part of a Sydney-wide raid with alleged links to the Hells Angels and Nomads outlaw motorcycle gangs. Strike Force Kinnarra was established in April to investigate shootings at five homes and businesses at Merrylands, Baulkham HIlls, Granville and Northmead. Also under investigation are two shootings at Rouse Hill and Bella Vista on April 20 and a shooting at a unit block on April 23. At 6am on Friday (April 27) officers from the strike force were joined by Strike Force Raptor, other State Crime Command squads, metropolitan region commands, Public Order and Riot Squad, Dog Unit and the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit to conduct 18 simultaneous raids. They included addresses at Cranebrook, Georges Hall, Auburn, Granville, Parramatta, St Marys, Blackett, Merrylands, Rosehill, Constitution Hill, Guildford, Pemulway, Pennant Hills and Bella Vista. Some of the warrants are still ongoing, but police have arrested two people and seized prohibited drugs and related paraphernalia, two firearms, prohibited weapons including knuckledusters, steroids, mobile phones, outlaw motorcycle clothing and other related paraphernalia. Numerous items will undergo forensic examination. State Crime Command acting Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the operation was about sending a clear message to those involved in the shootings that police will not rest until these people are put before the courts. ``We will not tolerate the actions of any individual or group who wishes to risk the safety of the community by committing public acts of violence,’’ he said. ``Police will use any method available to them to stop the violence and arrest those responsible, and that includes looking for evidence of any criminal activity, including evidence linked to the shootings.’‘ As well as the raids, the strike force will continue a range of other strategies to target these groups. This includes proactive patrols and other intelligence-based activities. ``The members and associates of these gangs are on notice that police won’t be taking the pressure off,’’ he said. ``Further arrests and more large operations are anticipated.’‘

Man in court over bikie shooting

Prosecutors have withdrawn a bid to suppress the identity of a man accused of shooting a member of a bikie gang and an innocent bystander in a Gold Coast shopping centre. Mark James Graham, 26, was arrested on Monday in Melton, in outer Melbourne, over the shooting at Robina Town Centre on Saturday. He was extradited to Queensland on Wednesday night. Graham, who faces six charges, including attempted murder, was flanked by six police officers in the dock of Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday. The brief hearing was adjourned after police prosecutor Sergeant Peta Eyschen asked for a suppression order on the accused's image remain in place. Sgt Eyschen told the court that given the complexity of the case, which involves a number of witnesses, there was a concern the publication of his image could taint evidence given in court. Magistrate John Costanzo adjourned the hearing to consider the suppression order. But the order was withdrawn, and the case adjourned to June 13. Graham is charged with attempted murder, unlawful wounding, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, possess a weapon, discharge weapon in public place and dangerous conduct with a weapon.

Two alleged bikies charged after loaded revolver and ice seized during raid

LOADED .45 calibre revolver and 97 grams of ice were seized when an alleged Nomads bikie gang member and an alleged associate of the Nomad and Rebels bikie gang were arrested in Blacktown on Wednesday. The Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Kinnarra, which was set up to investigate eight shootings related to a tit-for-tat war between the Nomads and Hells Angels in mid-April, conducted the raid at the Tulloch St address at 4.20pm, the Blacktown Advocate reported. No charges have been laid over the firearm, which is undergoing ballistic testing to determine if it is linked with any crimes, police said. Police wouldn’t say if they believed the .45 revolver seized had been used in the shootings they were investigating. A police source said it was difficult to link revolvers to individual shootings because they didn’t discharge shell casings when fired. Police said equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of ice were located in a garage and a set of knuckledusters, a 13cm knife, ammunition and two grams of methylamphetamine were found in car at the premises. They also found a wallet with a driver’s licence and several identification cards for another man which police say was stolen. Forensic officers and detectives concluded their search of the house and adjoining garage early on Thursday afternoon. Craig William Dunn, a 27-year-old alleged Nomads bikie member who lives at the Tulloch St address, faces two charges of supplying and two charges of possessing 97 grams of methylamphetamine. Dunn didn’t appear during his mention at Blacktown Court on Thursday and was refused bail to re-appear on May 17. John Keith Shaw, a 31-year-old alleged associate of the Nomads and Rebels of Evans St in Penrith, pleaded guilty to possession of two grams of methylamphetamine, possession of the metal knuckledusters and ammunition but not guilty to custody of the knife and possession of goods believed to be stolen (the driver’s licence and ID cards). Shaw was granted strict condition bail to re-appear on May 31, including an undertaking not to associate with any member of an outlaw motorcycle club or his co-accused, report at Penrith police station three times a week and a $2000 surety. He was still in custody awaiting an “acceptable person” to post his bail after the matter was heard at 2pm. Strike Force Kinnarra, an off-shoot of the anti-bikie Strike Force Raptor set-up in 2009, is investigating shootings at five homes and businesses at Merrylands, Baulkham Hills, Granville and Northmead in the early hours of April 17, two shootings at Rouse Hill and Bella Vista on April 20 and a shooting at a unit block in Merrylands on April 23. Strike Force Kinnarra said it had arrested 10 people, including two men charged in relation to the shooting at the Merrylands unit block.