Two Years of Inquiries Lead to Maryland Arrest

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

An associate of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested more than two years after officers discovered weapons and ammunition at a Maryland home.

A pistol, two sling shots, ammunition, and firearm parts including a trigger mechanism, suppressor, rifle bolt and shortened barrel were found at the home on Maryland Street during a search in May 2017.

All of the items were forensically examined by specialist police.

Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a man outside Maitland Local Court on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old has been charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm and two counts of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

He was refused bail to face court on Wednesday.

Image: NSW Police Force

Man Arrested Twice in One Day over Bail, Weapon Offences

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A senior member of the Rebels outlaw bikie gang has been charged with drug and weapon offences after detectives seized items from a home at Rutherford.

Just after 5:30 Thursday morning, Strike Force Raptor North detectives stopped the 45-year-old man on Young Street and arrested him for allegedly breaching his bail.

The man appeared at Maitland Local Court later that day, where he was released on conditional bail.

Detectives conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order search at a Rutherford home shortly after, seizing several items including a push dagger, a sheath knife, a disguised electronic control device, an extendable baton and Rebels OMCG colours.

Investigators also seized a crystal substance suspected to be methylamphetamine, prescribed restricted substances and 20 drums of diesel believed to being stolen.

The man was re-arrested at the scene and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with offences relating to the possession and use of a prohibited weapon, drug possession, and possession of stolen goods.

The man was again refused bail to face court on Friday.

Police Move To Shut Down Bikie Clubhouse At Islington

BY IAN CROUCH

Heavily armed police have raided the Nomad Bikie Gang clubhouse at Islington.

The Herald reports officers stormed the Chinchen Street clubhouse at about 7.00pm on Monday after the Supreme Court declared it a restricted premises, giving police the power to enter the property at any time.

It also means anyone with a criminal conviction who meets there can be charged.

Police believe it will spell the end of the Nomads clubhouse.

It comes as a bike turf war seems to have reignited, with police saying a drive-by shooting at Gillieston Heights last week appears to be a payback attack.

Police Raid The Nomads Clubhouse At Islington Picture: therherald.com.au

Crackdown on bikie gangs in the Hunter continues

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

The crackdown on bikie gangs in the Hunter has continued with police carrying out raids in Lake Macquarie.

Officers from the Gangs Squad and Strike Force Raptor and Hunter police carried out investigations under Strike Force Batterson in relation to violent acts believed to be related to a dispute between rival gangs.

In all, 15 properties were searched here and in Sydney including four home units in Lake Macquarie.

Police have since seized a number of drugs, ammunition, drugs and cash and several members of the Finks and Nomads bikie gangs have been arrested.

Strike Force Officers Raid Hunter Homes In Search Of Guns

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are stepping up their investigations into this week's drive-by shootings involving bikie gangs in the Hunter.

The Herald reports officers from Strike Force Raptor raided six properties yesterday looking for guns.

More than 30 shots were fired into the Wallsend home of a Nomads enforcer on Tuesday night in the third gang-related drive-by shooting since Saturday.

A Nomads clubhouse at Muswellbrook was firebombed while three men have faced court over assaults at a Kotara gym and a hotel at Honeysuckle during a week of violent incidents between rival bikie gangs.

Strike Force Raptor - Banditos gang member arrested

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Strike Force Raptor has struck again in the Hunter, with an associate of the Banditos outlaw motorcycle gang, and his son, charged with firearm offences.

Strike force officers conducted a targeted vehicle stop on a 48 year old man yesterday in Telarah, where shortly after a house was also searched.

A loaded firearm and a magazine, as well as 12-gauge shotgun shells were found at the Brooks Street address - one of the firearms is believed to be a stolen gun from a break-in in 2011.

The 48 year old was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with multiple firearm offences.

He was refused bail and will appear at Maitland Local Court later this month.

A 24 year old man was also arrested in Barnsley, where police conducted another search of a home and found multiple firearms and drugs.

The man was charged with multiple firearm and drug offences and refused bail to appear in Toronto Local Court later today.

Senior Bikie Gang Member Faces Court Over Brawl

BY IAN CROUCH

The crackdown on bikie gangs in the Hunter continues, with a high-ranking member of the Finks to face court later this month.

The Daily Telegraph reports 32-year-old Adam Gould, who's believed to be the Newcastle Chapter President of the Finks Bikie Gang, is accused of being armed with a baseball bat during a brawl outside a Wallsend Service Station last month involving Finks and Nomads gang members, which left two men in hospital.

Detectives from Strike Force Raptor arrested Gould at Newcastle Police Station yesterday.

He's been refused bail.to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Monday January 23 charged with affray, using an offensive weapon with intent to commit serious indictable offense, and custody of an offensive implement in a public place.