Police conduct massive bikie raids across Melbourne
- Herald Sun
- October 10, 2013
More than 50 bikie properties raided 0:30
Police stormed the Hells Angels headquarters in Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, early this morning with members of the Special Operations Group and Echo Taskforce on scene.
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Special Operations Group officers also raided the Nomads, an Angels affiliate, on the Western Ring Rd in Thomastown.
And the Seaford chapter of the Hells Angels feeder club, the Red Devils, was raided just after 8am.
Several other raids are occurring across Melbourne, but police have requested the Herald Sun not yet publish their locations for operational reasons.
One man has been arrested in Thomastown. There are reports another man was arrested at Fairfield.
Guns, a large amount of ammunition, stolen vehicles and cash have been seized.
Some 700 people have been involved in the operation, one of the biggest co-ordinated police swoops for years.
Acting deputy commissioner Steve Fontana said a revolver and a sawn-off shotgun were found at Nomads HQ.
The high-powered automatic weapons being sought by police today have not been found yet but more warrants will be issued as the day wears on.
Mr Fontana said it was possible the machineguns were being moved as those holding them became aware of the police activity.
A large amount of ammunition, requiring the police use of a trailer, was seized at one location.
Clubhouses, members' homes and associates were the subject of today's warrants.
Cannabis, powdered drugs and cash have been confiscated.
"We've been working on this for a while. We are extremely concerned about the weapons and we are extremely concerned about the rise in tensions. We know Hells Angels are the aggressors," Mr Fontana said.
Mr Fontana said they were a message to all outlaw motorcycle gangs that police would not tolerate such violence.
He described the busts as a "very high-risk operation".
Australian Federal police and Commonwealth customs officers have also been involved.
Police at the Fairfield stronghold - Melbourne's original Hells Angels headquarters - used a megaphone to instruct any occupants to leave the building.
In Thomastown, police removed several evidence bags and a black box from the Nomads' clubhouse and searched an industrial complex next door.
Officers conducting the Seaford raid drove a heavily armoured vehicle to the clubhouse front roller door in Patrick Court and removed large cutting equipment.
However it is believed the masked officers were let into the building and police did not need to force their way in.
About a dozen uniformed officers are currently inside the industrial property but have not been seen removing any items.
Patrick Court remains closed to the public, guarded by six uniformed officers, but business owners and workers are being allowed access.
Police were later seen taking several photographs inside the clubhouse.
Front gates have been torn off at Fairfield and Thomastown.
It is believed police had up to 60 warrants.
Tensions have been high in the bikie world for the last six months but the situation escalated 11 days ago when a gymnasium owned by Comanchero Victorian president Mick Murray, was shot up and explosive devices thrown through the window.
A Hells Angel clubhouse in a southeastern suburb was blasted with gunfire a day later.
Police have previously mentioned they are desperate to find high calibre weapons and machine guns which have been found in recent shootings.