Bikie Arrested At Raymond Terrace Over Extortion Allegations

 BY IAN CROUCH

Officers from a strike force established to crack down on the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs have arrested a man at Raymond Terrace over the alleged attempted extortion of a Sydney shopkeeper.

Detectives from the Raptor Squad established Strike Force Gilruth in April to investigate the alleged extortion of a 45-year-old shopkeeper by members of the Finks bikie gang.

Following extensive investigations, Raptor Squad executed seven search warrants at homes at Chatswood, North Richmond, North St Marys, Tregear, Bidwell, Riverstone, and Raymond Terrace  yesterday (Wednesday 2 June 2021).

During the searches, officers seized knuckledusters, 19 explosives, two firearms, a motorcycle engine, electronic devices, OMCG clothing, as well as a small amount of cannabis and steroids,

All items seized will be subject to further examination.

Three senior members of the Finks OMCG were arrested during the operation.

A 25-year-old Chatswood man was taken to Chatswood Police Station, where he was charged with demand property in company with menaces with intent to steal, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, participate criminal group contribute criminal, and contravene non-association, place restriction. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 2 June 2021) where he was formally refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Monday 7 June 2021.

A 26-year-old North Richmond man was taken to Windsor Police Station, where he was charged with demand property in company with menaces with intent to steal, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm, possess unregistered firearm, and possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 3 June 2021).

A 29-year-old North St Marys man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with demand property in company with menaces with intent to steal, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, participate criminal group contribute criminal, and two counts of possess prohibited drug. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 3 June 2021).

Following the search warrant executed at Raymond Terrace, police also arrested a 23-year-old man. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with handle explosive/precursor without authorising licence, possess unauthorised pistol, and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit. The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 21 June 2021.

Investigations are continuing.

Officers from the Raptor Squad arrested a Raymond Terrace man

BREAKING! Police Seize $12,000 in Cash Allegedly Found in Freezer in Belmont South Home

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will appear in court today after  investigators seized more than $12,000 in cash and two firearms from a Belmont South home on Thursday morning. 

A 38-year-old man was charged after Police from Strike Force Raptor North executed a search warrant of the home just after 2am on Thursday the 5th of March.

During the search, officers seized two pistols, ammunition, electronic equipment and prohibited drugs believed to methylamphetamine.

Police also located $12,380 cash allegedly hidden inside a freezer.

The man allegedly fled from the home before being detained by officers, with assistance from the Dog Unit, a short distance away.

The man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, before the woman was released pending further inquiries.

The man was charged with two counts of  possessing an unregistered firearm, two counts of possessing ammunition without a holding licence or permit, possessing a  prohibited drug and dealing with property proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Images Courtesy of NSW Police Force

Woman Charged Over Major Drug Supply Ring In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

A 60-year-old woman is due to face court in July accused of being part of a large-scale drug supply ring.

Officers from the Criminal Group Squad's Strike Force Raptor commenced an investigation in November last year into the commercial supply of methylamphetamine and MDMA in the Port Stephens and Newcastle areas.

Four men and a woman have since been arrested and charged.

Yesterday, officers arrested a 60-year-old woman at an Aberglasslyn home.

It's alleged she was involved in the transportation of up to 2000 MDMA tablets.

The woman has been charged with supplying a greater than commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and has been refused bail to face Maitland Local Court on July 17.

Court Orders Against Hunter Bike Gang Members Expire This Weekend

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police from Strike Force Raptor are hoping there won't be a fresh outbreak of bikie gang violence in the Hunter, with Serious Crime Prevention Orders against several gang members expiring this weekend.

More than 20 gang members are set to defend charges of either directing or participating in a criminal group in August.

Over an 18 month period, there were a series of drive-by shootings, firebombings and brawls involving rival bikie gang members.

Police took the unprecedented step of applying for Supreme Court orders in a bid to stop the violence.

They prevent gang members from associating, wearing club insignia, travelling at night and using encrypted messaging services as part of a suite of strict conditions.

The brief of evidence against the accused gang members has ballooned in recent weeks from 2400 pages to more than 8200 pages.

Police from Strike Force Raptor applied for Supreme Court orders in a bid to stop bikie gang violence in the Hunter

Sydney-Based Police Strike Force Bound For Newcastle

BY ARIANA GATTI

A new team, of some 23-strong was announced today to hit the ground running within the Hunter region over the coming weeks.

The Strike Force originally based in Sydney, called 'Strike Force Raptor', are setting up specialised units permanentently within the Newcastle Police precinct in order to combat and dismantle locally-organised crime within the area.

The State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad officially launched the new squad initiative yesterday, which now has its own name as an extension of the original force, now referred to as 'Raptor North'.

The force, which has the potential to operate across Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast, will consist of intelligence and analytical investigators, highway patrol and operations support group (OSG) operatives, to meet any specialised activity.

This, however, is not the first taste of crime relief in the Northern NSW area as Raptor North operations have been up and running since the 1st of April.

Since then, arson attacks and broader criminal activity has significantly decreased.

With the rollout of the new strike force, criminal justice systems around the Hunter now have the ability to tap into the National anti-gang squad members, including the taxation department, Austrac and other Commonwealth partners in the pursuit of dismantling gangs and criminal groups.

Northern Regional Commander of Police, Max Mitchell, says the Strike Force introduction is essential in exacting change within Hunter communities.

"Over recent months we have seen a dramatic reduction in serious crime occurring, particularly and thankfully of public place shootings", he says.

"Whilst we have that fire power available, I think this will be a positive step for our communities".

Image sourced: 2NURFM Reporter - Ariana Gatti - Newcastle Police Precinct.

Turf War: Hunter Bikie Boss Tells Police "I'm Over It"

BY IAN CROUCH

The state president of the Finks bikie gang has told police he's over the turf war which has gripped the Hunter in recent months.

Fairfax reports Andrew Manners made the blunt assessment to police during a phone call from Goulburn Gaol.

He's asked detectives to set up a meeting with the "big boss" of the Nomads in a bid to end the bitter dispute.

The bikie boss's Chisholm home was targeted in a drive-by shooting last month, with the house sprayed with bullets while his partner and her daughter were inside. Manners had been arrested a week before the attack.

The Police Commissioner is applying to the Supreme Court for a Serious Crime Prevention Order on ten members of the Finks and Nomads - both clubs have opposed the orders in court.

Police argue the orders are necessary to protect the public.

Officers From Strike Force Raptor Have Been Closing Down Bikie Gang Clubhouses Across The Hunter. Picture: Facebook