Thursday, 23 July 2015 12:19:44 AM
*** Editors note: vision of yesterday’s police operation will be sent to media via a Hightail link later today. ***
Police have arrested five members and one associate of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) following investigations into the assault of two Finks OMCG members in Sydney’s west last month.
Drugs, cash, ammunition and OMCG paraphernalia have also been seized during the operation.
Officers from the Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Raptor have been investigating the assault which occurred at a hotel in Clarendon about 6.30pm on Friday 5 June 2015.
It followed the alleged assault of a number of Rebels OMCG associates by members of the Finks at a hotel in Bligh Park just two nights earlier on Wednesday 3 June 2015.
Early yesterday (Wednesday 22 July 2015) Strike Force Raptor officers assisted by the Tactical Operations Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad and North West Metropolitan Region executed seven search warrants on homes at Berkshire Park, Mulgoa, Colyton, Ropes Crossing, Bidwill, McGraths Hill and Lalor Park.
Five Rebels members were arrested and police seized two litres of methylamphetamine oil and a small amount of ice, steroids, ammunition, a ballistic vest and Rebels OMCG paraphernalia.
The men were each charged with affray and participating in a criminal group. They include a 25-year-old Lalor Park man, a 33-year-old Bidwill man, a 29-year-old Ropes Crossing man, a 22-year-old McGraths Hill and a 34-year-old Colyton man.
The Lalor Park man was additionally charged an extra count of affray with possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.
They were each granted conditional bail.
The Lalor Park, Bidwill and Ropes Crossing men will appear at Mount Druitt Local Court on Thursday 13 August 2015, while the McGraths Hill and Colyton men will appear at Penrith Local Court on Monday 17 August 2015.
An associate of the Rebels, a 33-year-old man from Bidwill, was later arrested at Mount Druitt Police Station and charged with possessing ammunition without a licence. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Mount Druitt Local Court on Thursday 13 August 2015.
Meanwhile, two members of the Finks OMCG were arrested by Strike Force Raptor officers at South Windsor on Wednesday 8 July 2015 in relation to the Bligh Park incident.
A number of items relating to the hotel assault, as well as OMCG paraphernalia and steroids, were seized.
The two men, aged 33 and 31, were taken to Windsor Police Station where they were both charged with affray. The younger man was also charged with possess prohibited drug.
They were both granted conditional bail to appear at Windsor Local Court today (Thursday 23 July 2015).
Police believe both incidents were linked to a previous conflict between the two gangs and are continuing to closely monitor their activities.
Investigations into these incidents, and some of the items seized during yesterday’s search warrants, are continuing.
Strike Force Raptor was established by State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad in 2009. It is a proactive and high-impact operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and any associated criminal enterprises. wank wank wank
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