280 officers raid 31 properties in "relentless" bikie crackdown

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Properties connected to outlaw motorcycle gangs in the Hunter have been raided today as part of a major police operation.

31 search warrants were executed across 10 different suburbs from Muswellbrook to Newcastle, with 280 officers seizing various illicit items such as firearm parts, unlawful weapons and even snakes.

Police said 10 persons are currently in custody and are assisting with enquiries.

The raids come as Strike Force Raptor and Darnay officers zero-in on the Finks and Nomads rival bikie gangs, whose contention has resulted in numerous drive-by shootings and public acts of violence in weeks gone by, at Gillieston Heights, Tenambit and Thornton among other suburbs.

During the Thornton drive-by shooting on March 4th, a 44-year-old man was shot in the leg at his home on Deschamps Close while his child was inside at the time.

Just days earlier, the home of Finks Hunter Chapter President, Andrew Manners was sprayed with bullets.

Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey said the conduct cannot be allowed to continue.

"NSW Police will continue to interrupt and intercept the activities of these two outlaw motorcycle gangs," he affirmed, "We will not tolerate public acts of violence [such as] these drive-by shootings.

"We have been deploying tactical police into the field with Operation Raptor staff to interrupt the activities of these gangs and that will continue."

The Superintendent issued a plea for anyone connected to the crimes to come forward with information, despite the code of silence operating within the gangs.

"If anyone has information from within these gangs," he said,"I know it's going to be a hard road to come to the police...but eventually, either you or someone in your family could be hurt by these activities or even someone who's totally unrelated to the gang, and that will be on your conscience," he asserted.

Criminal Groups Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace, echoed her colleague in declaring police will not give up.

"This dispute has been going on for 16 months...one would say 'are they getting tired of doing it?' it doesn't appear so, but neither are we," Superintendent Wallace said.

"We'll be relentless in stopping and suppressing this activity."

Police launch new strike-force following bikie shooting in Maitland

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Police have confirmed this morning's shooting incident at a home in Chisholm was bikie-gang related.

In response to escalating tensions between the Nomads and Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Hunter police have announced the initiation of Strike Force Darnay to better monitor local bikie behaviour.

Around 1am this morning, police received reports of gunfire from neighbours and attended a home on Duskdarter Street, Chisholm.

They found the house's facade and a car parked out the front peppered with bullet holes.

It's understood the incident was a drive-by shooting, adding to a spate of crimes committed in the Maitland area over the past month.

Indeed, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey says within the Hunter region, there have been six bikie-related public place shootings and two attacks involving Molotov Cocktails since January alone.

However, the Superintendent says the community needn't become frightened, due to the targeted nature of the attacks.

"We are very satisfied that this is a targeted attack.

"We believe there is no danger to the community, in terms of 'randomness' of attacks- this is a targeted attack between two groups undertaking this criminality."

Superintendent Humphrey says the crimes are difficult to investigate due to pacts made between gang members.

"They have a misguided code of silence and we've got to try to break that down...these people are victims of crime, despite the fact they may be members of the gang," he said.

Strike Force Raptor Officers from Sydney are still present in the Hunter to aid investigations, and Wayne Humphrey hopes now, with a specific Hunter taskforce, some real progress will be made.

The Nomads' Clubhouse at Islington and the Finks' base at Muswellbrook both remain declared as restricted premises, allowing police to enforce consorting laws.

Cracking down: Detective Inspector Wayne Humphrey announces Strike Force Darnay.