Eight people – including a senior member of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) and two associates – have been charged following investigations into several public place shootings, assaults and other criminal activity on the state's South Coast.
About 11pm on Sunday 1 December 2019, officers attended View Street, Batehaven, following reports shots had been fired into the front window of a home. No one was injured.
In a second incident, about 1.40am on Monday 2 December 2019, police were called to the Kings Highway, Nelligen, about 10km north west of Batemans Bay, after reports shots had been fired into a home. No one was injured.
About 2am the same day, in a third incident, three men in a vehicle were approached by another three men – armed with firearms – at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Cranbrook Road, just south of Batemans Bay.
Police will allege one of the men was threatened and hit in the head with the back of a firearm following an altercation between the two groups, who were not known to each other. Three men later attended Batemans Bay Hospital before reporting the incident to police.
Just before 1am on Tuesday 3 December 2019, emergency services were called to Surf Beach Avenue, Surf Beach, following reports of a vehicle fire. The fire was extinguished; however, the Proton sedan was completely destroyed.
Detectives from South Coast Police District commenced initial inquiries into the incidents, which are being treated as targeted and linked, before detectives from the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Essendene.
During the course of the investigation, detectives received information about alleged drug supply, extortion, assaults, and fraudulent bushfire claims against a charity organisation.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, assisted by Strike Force Raptor, executed two search warrants at Sunshine Bay and Batehaven, three crime scene warrants at Long Beach, Sunshine Beach and Mogo, and a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) at Malua Bay from 7.30am yesterday (Tuesday 3 March 2020).
During the searches, police seized drug paraphernalia, methylamphetamine, Nomads OMCG colours, mobile phones, a laptop, and a baton.
Four men – aged 25, 26, 31 and 33 – were arrested during the operation.
A 20-year-old woman was also arrested after allegedly assaulting a male senior constable.
The 25-year-old Mogo man, who is a Nomads OMCG associate, was charged with fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity (x2), possess unregistered firearm in public place (x2), affray, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and supply prohibited drug (between indictable and commercial quantity).
The 26-year-old Batehaven man was charged with publish false misleading material to obtain property, supply prohibited drug (small quantity), and supply prohibited drug (between indictable and commercial quantity x3).
The 31-year-old Sunshine Bay man, who is a Nomads OMCG senior member, was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity (x2), possess unregistered firearm in public place (x2), stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm (x2), affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The 33-year-old Long Beach man, who is a Nomads OMCG associate, was charged with 16 offences, including participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, affray, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm (x2), fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity (x2), possess unregistered firearm in public place (x2), assault occasioining actual bodily harm, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception (x3), and deal with property proceeds of crime (x3).
They have all been refused bail to appear at Batemans Bay Local Court today (Wednesday 4 March 2020).
The woman was charged with use offensive language in/near public place, resist officer in execution of duty and assault officer in execution of duty.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 6 April 2020.
A separate operation was also conducted at South Coast Correctional Centre targeting inmates associated with the Nomads OMCG to disrupt further criminal acts.
The operation involved 16 cell searches, where detectives allegedly found prohibited drugs, tobacco and jail-made weapons.
Three inmates – aged 19, 32, 35 – were issued Court Attendance Notices for offences including possess offensive weapon in place of detention, inmate possess tobacco, and possess prescribed restricted substance.
Investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
