Across the country, police have arrested 56 people and laid 168 charges as part of a national day of action targeting the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG).
In Victoria, the national Taskforce Morpheus day of action - which ran on Thursday 5 March - focused particularly on the link between OMCGs and the illicit tobacco trade and other associated criminality.
Detectives from the Echo Taskforce, VIPER Taskforce, Illicit Firearms Squad and Dog Squad as well as police from Western Region were supported by the Sheriff's Office and conducted two FPO services and eight compliance searches.
A further two search warrants were executed, and members assisted the Sheriff's Office with the execution of their enforceable actions.
Suburbs included Parkdale, Clayton, Thomastown, Newcomb, Mount Waverley, Langwarrin, Robinvale (2), Fraser Rise, Berwick, Sunshine and Narre Warren South.
A 42-year-old Berwick man, believed to be a patched member of the Comanchero OMCG, was charged with traffick drug of dependence and possess drug of dependence.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 27 May.
Focussing on enhanced national coordination and collaboration, national Taskforce Morpheus is a joint initiative through which all Australian state and territory police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Defence Force, Australian Taxation Office, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, Services Australia and New Zealand Police collaboratively target the highest threat outlaw motorcycle gangs impacting Australia.
In total, Taskforce Morpheus resulted in:
• 56 arrests,
• 168 charges,
• 37 FPO compliance searches,
• The execution of 51 search warrants, and
• The seizure of illicit drugs, firearms and cash.
Anyone with information about OMCG activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Mick Daly, Echo Taskforce:
"Taskforce Morpheus has been a very successful national and international operation over the last decade. This includes multiple operations conducted that have seen outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members arrested, charged and held to account via the criminal justice system.
"Law enforcement and partner government agencies will continue to use our full range of shared capabilities to proactively target OMCGs, across Australia, New Zealand and internationally. This will be done at every opportunity and we will be relentless in pursuing OMCGs. National Taskforce Morpheus will not stop disrupting and holding OMCGs to account for their criminal actions."
