Four alleged Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) members have been arrested after a cross-border operation in the state’s north today, NSW Police say.
More than 50 officers from Tweed/Byron Police District, Queensland Police’s Taskforce Maxima, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Probation and Parole and Corrective Services NSW - Community Corrections, were involved in today’s operation (Tuesday 19 June 2018), which is proactively targeting OMCG activity in the region.
As part of an ongoing strategy, police officers conducted searches for firearms, firearms parts, and ammunition at properties of OMCG members subject to Firearm Prohibition Order’s (FPOs).
At a property at Cudgen, south of Tweed Heads, officers located ammunition, illicit drugs, steroids, explosives and cash. A 25-year-old member of the Mongols OMCG Tweed Heads chapter was arrested at the scene. He was later released pending further inquiries.
A 47-year-old member of the Lone Wolf OMCG Gold Coast chapter was arrested on warrant at a property in Carrara, Queensland. He was conveyed to Southport watch house where NSW Police applied for his extradition. That application was granted and he was extradited and placed before Tweed Heads Local Court today.
Queensland Police with the assistance of police from NSW executed a search warrant at a Tugun property allegedly associated with a member of the Lone Wolf OMCG. Police located steroids and prescription medication, which were seized for forensic analysis. Queensland police issued notices to appear at court to a 32-year-old man and a 24-year old woman.
Community compliance officers from Corrective Services NSW and their QLD counterparts visited a number of properties to conduct compliance checks. Queensland Probation and Parole officers conducted drug tests on several OMCG members, who tested positive to cannabis and methamphetamines. They will be dealt with by Queensland Probation and Parole.
Tweed/Byron Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cullen, said police and government agencies across the region will continue to work closely to reduce the impact of OMCG activities.
"High-impact operations like this are conducted to target and disrupt the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs and their associates.
"The safety of the community is our priority, and we will not tolerate activities that put the public at risk," Det Ch Insp Cullen said.
Commander of Queensland Police’s Strike Force Maxima, Detective Inspector Stephen Blanchard said, "This operation highlights how important it is for us to cooperate with other law-enforcement agencies, to ensure groups who break the law face serious consequences on both sides of the border.
