Two Hells Angels Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang (OMCG) leaders are expected to be removed from Australia after being arrested by detectives from the Echo Taskforce yesterday as part of a National Day of Action against the group.
The men were detained in Werribee and Narre Warren South on 14 October with assistance from the Special Operations Group.
Both men are known to be senior office bearers within the Hells Angels OMCG.
Victoria Police worked with the Department of Home Affairs and the visas for the two New Zealand nationals were subsequently cancelled on character grounds.
They have been detained under Section 189 of the Migration Act 1958.
Police then attended a property in Beaconsfield Upper, where a firearm and ammunition was seized from a 40-year-old man.
The man, who is known to be an office bearer at the club, subsequently had his firearms licence suspended.
Warrants were also executed yesterday at club houses linked to the Hells Angels in Thomastown and Campbellfield.
Alcohol was seized from two of the address and three men are expected to be charged with liquor licensing offences.
On Monday and Tuesday, police served Firearm Prohibition Orders on two Hells Angels OMCG members, a 58-year-old Yarra Glen man and a 65-year-old Roxburgh Park man.
A search of a business in Craigieburn was also undertaken on Tuesday as part of this process.
Police seized ammunition and a quantity of cannabis from the Yarra Glen property on Monday.
The 58-year-old man, who is an office bearer with the club, is expected to be charged on summons with firearms and drug offences.
Police from a number of units including Echo Taskforce, Vehicle Crime Squad, State Liquor Unit, the Public Order Response Team, Critical Incident Response Team, North West Metro Regional Crime Team, Casey Crime Investigation Unit and Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit were involved in the operation, along with assistance from the Australian Border Force.
The arrests and seizures form part of a National day of Action targeting the Hells Angels OMCG.
The operation, coordinated by National Task Force Morpheus, involved police from across Australia and New Zealand joining forces to conduct a series of 28 co-ordinated search warrants and disruption activities targeting the Hells Angels OMCG.
The results resulted in the seizure of firearms, ammunition, cash and drugs including methylamphetamine, cocaine, steroids and 30L of GHB.
In addition to the arrests and seizures made yesterday, valuable intelligence was gained which will be shared with all law enforcement agencies through the Australian Criminal and Intelligence Commission's Australian Gangs Intelligence Coordination Centre.
Victoria Police Commander Mick Frewen said that police in Victoria were focused on sending a strong message that police are actively targeting the criminal activities of this group.
"This is a group we know have traditionally been involved in violent crimes such as shootings, assaults, arson, drug trafficking, extortion and intimidation," Cmdr Frewen said.
"We've used a number of enforcement tools this week, including working with a number of Federal agencies, to put a stop to the harm these people are doing to our community here in Victoria.
"It's important that criminal organisations such as the Hells Angels are held accountable for their criminal actions and this week shows that police will actively work to disrupt their activities."
Detective Superintendent Tony Longhorn, WA Police Force's representative on National Task Force Morpheus, and spokesperson for yesterday's national operation, said the coordination of activities across jurisdictions is a critical aspect of investigations and intelligence gathering.
"Outlaw motor cycle gangs use their networks of chapters across the country, and across the world, to facilitate a range of criminal activities including the activities linked to the illicit drug and firearm trades," he said.
"By working together across national and international borders we gather important intelligence to assist with targeted disruption activities and build our intelligence holdings to support current and future investigations.
"The Hells Angels OMCG in particular has a long history of violence and intimidation, and have strong links to other serious and organised crime groups, not just in Australia but across the world through their overseas chapters.
"The members of National Task Force Morpheus are committed to disrupting and dismantling the criminal networks linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs and will do everything within their powers to protect the community from the dangers outlaw motor cycle gangs pose."
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
