Officers from the Gangs Squad allegedly seized a loaded pistol, drugs, encrypted mobile phones and a fake explosive device during the co-ordinated raids on 13 properties carried out from 6am on Wednesday.
The raids were carried out in Eastlakes, Brighton Le Sands, Maroubra, Rosebery, Mascot, Condell Park, Auburn, Narwee, Cranebrook, Northmead and Kellyville.
It comes as police investigate a shooting in Bexley on Tuesday night with apparent links to an ongoing motorcycle gang turf war. It was the third major shooting in Sydney in 10 days.
Bassil Hijazi, 19, was shot in the neck as he sat in a car on Prince Street in Bexley about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Witnesses said two vehicles chased Mr Hijazi's sedan into the poorly lit street and cornered the vehicle, before someone emerged and fired up to six rounds, one of which struck the victim in the neck.
Mr Hijazi survived the shooting and staggered to a nearby home for help.
The Bexley street was also the scene of a drive-by shooting on March 13 last year. A number of bullets were fired into the front of a home, missing two children, aged 9 and 10, and their parents.
Last week, two men - Hells Angels nominee Tyrone Lee Slemnik and Ali Jammas, who also had motorcycle gang links - were shot dead in separate incidents in Sydney.
Mr Slemnik's death in Eastlakes is believed to have been part of an ongoing turf war between the Hells Angels and Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gangs, while police were investigating whether Mr Jammas' death in Abbotsbury was also bikie-related.
Police said Wednesday morning's raids formed part of a Gangs Squad operation to collect evidence for applications under the Crimes (Criminal Organisation Control) Act.
A 31-year-old man, who police identified as a high-ranking member of the Hells Angels, ( arent they always?) was arrested at a hotel in Sydney.
He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where detectives were questioning him. No charge has been laid.
Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, the Gangs Squad Commander, said police would continue to target gangs that exposed the community to danger.
“Our priority is preventing public acts of violence that endanger the lives of innocent residents and bystanders,” Mr Katsogiannis said.
“We will not tolerate the illegal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs and we will continue to develop and execute strategies to disrupt, restrict and dismantle OMCG criminal enterprises."
Gangs Squad detectives were joined in Wednesday morning's raids by police from other state crime command squads, the South-West, North-West and Central Metropolitan regions, the Public Order and Riot Squad and the Dog Unit.
