Two men – one a current senior member and the other a former senior member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) – have been charged as police continue to target the activities of criminal groups throughout Manning-Great Lakes.
As part of ongoing targeting of the illicit activities of OMCG and suppressing violent acts, officers from Manning-Great Lakes Police District and the Criminal Groups Squad's Strike Force Raptor conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) operation in the local area yesterday (Monday 14 January 2019).
Police conducted five FPOs at homes on Macquarie Street, Coopernook; Old Bar Road, Glenthorne (Taree); Diamond Beach Road, Halliday's Point; Kerle Street, Taree; and Rosedale Road, Tinonee.
During the searches, officers seized a replica rifle, steroids, cash, Rebels OMCG paraphernalia, and a number of items, which will undergo further examination.
A 27-year-old Tinonee man and a 61-year-old Coopernook man were arrested during the operation and taken to Taree Police Station.
The 27-year-old man, who is a senior member of the local chapter of the Rebels OMCG, was charged with goods in custody.
Police will also allege in court that the man had been in possession of a stolen Chrysler SRT8 that was recovered at Taree last Wednesday (9 January 2019).
The 61-year-old man, who is a member of the Rebels OMCG, was charged with firearm found at premises subject to prohibition order.
Both men were granted strict conditional bail and are due to appear at Forster Local Court on Tuesday 5 February 2019.
Manning-Great Lakes Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Rod Blackman, said police will continue to run similar operations targeting the illicit activities of criminal groups in the area.
"Our community deserves to live without fear of violence or intimidation by people who have no regard for the law – or for the safety of fellow residents," Det Ch Insp Blackman said.
"We have always focused our policing strategies on those who do the wrong thing and with the assistance of Strike Force Raptor, we will continue to deploy various overt and covert operations to disrupt gang activity.
"Let this be a warning to members and associates of criminal groups in our district; we will be knocking on your doors and you will face court if you break the law.
"Our community can support local police by reporting any information they may have about criminal groups and their activities to Crime Stoppers."
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 on 1800 333 000.
Information provided to investigators will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
