Police continued their crackdown on local bikies and their associates around the Lismore district yesterday, with raids across the northern rivers resulting in a 44-year-old Lismore man arrested after 74 prohibited weapons were seized.
After raids in October last year, aimed at the Lismore chapter of the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Gang, Federal, State and local police carried out two search warrants in Lismore yesterday, along with searches for firearms on eight other properties.
The operation involved detectives from Richmond LAC under Strike Force Areas, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Raptor together with the AFP National Anti-Gangs Squad.
Together they have been investigating the alleged importation of prohibited weapons.
During the operation, police located and seized 74 prohibited weapons, including knuckle dusters, machetes, replica firearms, electronic stun guns, handcuffs, throwing stars, whips containing blades, and credit card knives.
Police will allege the weapons were imported illegally into Australia after being purchased online.
The 44-year-old, who police say is an associate of the Lone Wolf club, was charged with numerous offences related to prohibited firearms.
The charges include 17 counts of intentionally importing prohibited ‘tier two’ goods without approval, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, three counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol, and eight counts of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.
Richmond Local Area Command crime manager Senior Constable David Henderson said the Australian Federal Police would be laying further charges.
The man was refused bail to appear in the Lismore Local Court today.
In October 2016, Strike Force Areas, an operation targeting drug supply offences linked to the Lone Wolf OMCG, led to nine people being charged after multiple search warrants were conducted.
During those raids, over 2000 cannabis plants, commercial quantities of MDMA, and other drugs with an estimated potential street value of more than $5 million were seized.
Following extensive inquiries and communication with AFP National Anti-Gangs Squad, police swooped around 7.30am yesterday (Tuesday 21 February 2017), carrying out two search warrants at units on Casino Street, South Lismore, and Marlyn Avenue, East Lismore.
In addition, Firearms Prohibition Order searches were conducted on eight properties at South Lismore, Gundarimba, Caniaba, Alstonville, Rous Mill, Bungawalbin, Georgica, and Woodburn.
Richmond Local Area Command Acting Inspector, Bernadette Ingram, congratulated those involved in the operation.
‘The investigation highlights how important it is for us to co-operate with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Australian Federal Police to ensure we can find those responsible and put them before the court,’ Acting Insp Ingram said.
AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall said that the combined efforts of both the AFP led NSW National Anti-Gangs Squad and NSW Police had seen a successful result yesterday.
‘It is a great result to see such a large number of illegal weapons removed from the community. We will be relentless in pursuing those people associated with OMCGs that think they are above the law,’ Det Supt Hall said.
Inquiries are continuing.
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