A senior OMCG member will be extradited to NSW, and an associate has been charged with refusing to comply with a Digital Evidence Access Order, as part of ongoing targeting operations related to organised criminal activity.
As part of ongoing operations, the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad established Strike Force Phobetor-Harmonia to investigate several suspected breaches of an SCPO by a 35-year-old man.
Following extensive inquiries, the 35-year-old man was arrested by officers from the Gold Coast Major and Organised Crime Squad, Taskforce Maxima, and National Anti-Gangs Squad officers in the presence of strike force detectives at a Benowa Waters property about 6.30am AEST yesterday (Thursday 9 February 2023).
The man was taken to Southport Watchhouse before appearing at the Magistrate's Court, where NSW detectives applied for, and were granted his extradition to NSW.
The man will be escorted by Criminal Groups Squad detectives to Sydney later today (Friday 10 February 2023).
Police will allege in court that the man – who is a high-ranking member of the Comancheros OMCG – had contravened his SCPO by not providing the full address of his temporary accommodation, not providing an intended return date to his primary residence, and possessing/using a communication device with encrypted message capabilities.
As part of ongoing operations under Strike Force Phobetor-Harmonia, Criminal Groups Squad detectives also executed two simultaneous search warrants at properties in Greystanes and Haymarket yesterday.
A 33-year-old man was served with a Digital Evidence Access Order, which police will allege he refused to comply with, before he was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station.
During the warrants, police seized steroids, several mobile phones and a suspected dedicated encrypted criminal communication device. All items will undergo further forensic examination.
The Greystanes man was charged with two counts of fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, two counts of deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, and one count each of do act etc intending to pervert the course of justice, and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court later today.
The NSW Police Force employ a number of measures to prevent, restrict and disrupt those involved in serious crime-related activities.
They include Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs), Public Safety Orders (PSOs), Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPOs), and other compliance-based measures, including reviewing new legislation to confiscate unexplained wealth and the proceeds of crime and to prohibit the possession of dedicated encrypted criminal communication devices.
Anyone with information about the activities of organised criminal networks is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
