The NSW Police Force’s Strike Force Raptor joined their interstate colleagues for National Days of Action targeting the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG), NSW Police say.
Operation Morpheus is a National Anti-Gangs Squad initiative which combines the resources of all Australian state and territory police agencies and key Commonwealth agencies to detect, deter, and disrupt illicit activity of OMCGs, their members, and associates.
In NSW, the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor led a four-day operation, which concluded yesterday (Thursday 13 September 2018).
The operation also involved officers from Police Area Commands, Police Districts, and Region Enforcement Squads from across the state, and the Public Order and Riot Squad.
During the operation, police arrested five Hells Angels members, who were charged with a total of nine offences, including possess firearm-subject to prohibition order, possess unauthorised firearm, possess prohibited drug, assault-actual bodily harm, offensive manner, and breach of bail.
Officers also served six Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO), conducted 19 FPO searches, and seven further FPO searches.
During the searches, police located and seized a handgun, various prohibited weapons, MDMA, cannabis and a plant, items used in the cultivation of cannabis, and Hells Angels OMCG colours and paraphernalia.
Officers also served consorting warnings, banning notices, and outstanding debt notifications.
Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Nick Read, said coordinated multi-agency operations targeting criminal groups are an important part of combatting unexplained wealth.
"Law enforcement in Australia have a collaborative approach to targeting OMCG, who operate across borders and across a variety of criminal activities," Det A/Supt Read said.
"By executing coordinated cross-border and cross-jurisdictional operations, we enhance our capabilities to disrupt illicit businesses and the ability for OMCG to impart influence on the wider community.
"The Criminal Groups Squad and Strike Force Raptor have been fearless and relentless in pursuing OMCG and will continue to work closely with local police to disrupt the activities of all criminal groups throughout NSW," Det A/Supt Read said.
The National Anti-Gangs Squad is a national multi-agency task force funded by the Federal Government. A strike team comprising the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force and Australian Taxation Office personnel is located within State Crime Command to investigate the activities of criminal groups.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
Anyone with information, including relevant photos and videos, that may assist Strike Force Raptor can report it directly to investigators via the Strike Force Raptor online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/Default.aspx?id=49 or call Crime Stoppers.
