A former member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) and two associates have been charged with firearms and weapons offences following a vehicle stop by Strike Force Raptor at the weekend, NSW Police say.
Officers from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor were conducting proactive patrols when they stopped a Mazda on Forresters Road, Lethbridge Park, about 10.40pm on Saturday (8 September 2018).
Police spoke to the occupants – two men and a woman – before conducting a search of the vehicle.
During the search, Strike Force Raptor located a loaded, shortened .22 calibre rifle; knuckle dusters, knives, gloves, a balaclava, and a small quantity of prohibited drugs, including ice, alprazolam (Xanax) and buprenorphine strips.
The occupants were arrested and taken to local police stations.
The 35-year-old man was charged with possess loaded firearm public place, possess unregistered unauthorised prohibited firearm in public place, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm, possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority, not keep firearm safely-prohibited firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and acquire prohibited firearm-subject prohibition order.
The 37-year-old man, who is a former member of the Rebels OMCG, was charged with possess loaded firearm public place, possess unregistered unauthorised prohibited firearm in public place, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm, possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority, not keep firearm safely-prohibited firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and possess prohibited drug.
The 38-year-old woman was charged with possess loaded firearm public place, possess unregistered unauthorised prohibited firearm in public place, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm, possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority, not keep firearm safely-prohibited firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, custody of knife in public place, and possess prohibited drug.
All three people were refused bail and appeared at court on Sunday (9 September 2018), where they were formally refused bail to re-appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday (12 September 2018).
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.
