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May 26, 2004 - 2:42PM
Raids in three states today disabled a multi-million dollar drug racket allegedly run by five bikie gangs, police said.
An 18-month police investigation climaxed at dawn today as 350 police in NSW, South Australia and Queensland simultaneously raided 28 properties, arresting 20 people.
Police allege five bikie gangs - the Rebels, Nomads, Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels and Finks - are part of a network alleged to have produced drugs such as cannabis and speed worth about $23 million.
Police believe the drugs were being sold to and distributed by truck drivers, operating on routes between Queensland and South Australia.
About 200 officers from Strike Force Winstead raided 15 NSW properties at dawn - 11 in Dubbo, in the state's central west, one at Port Stephens on the central coast and three in the Sydney suburbs of Casula, Erskine Park and St Clair.
Twelve men and two women were arrested in these raids and have been charged with offences including conspiracy to manufacture and supply prohibited drugs as well as firearms and property offences.
During the raids in NSW, police recovered firearms, ammunition, amphetamines, prohibited weapons and chemical precursors, as well as evidence of clandestine drug laboratories, police said.
In South Australia, the Drug and Organised Crime Investigation branch raided properties in Adelaide and east of Adelaide, arresting four men.
They will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court for extradition proceedings to Sydney to face charges of conspiracy to trade and manufacture cannabis and amphetamines.
Two search warrants were executed in Queensland but no arrests were made, and inquiries continue.
NSW Gangs Squad Commander Ken McKay said today's operation was the culmination of a probe lasting a year and a half.
"We were asked to assist local police 18 months ago as they had a problem with outlaw motorcycle gangs and the manufacture and transport of speed," Detective Inspector McKay told reporters in Dubbo.
"Dubbo is on the main route where these drugs were being transported to and from South Australia and Queensland."
Det Insp McKay said the "extremely successful" operation had stopped an organised crime drug racket.
"This was an illegal business where the street value of amphetamines is estimated to be $22 million, as well as $1 million worth of cannabis," he said.
"We will allege that these drugs were used by people in the trucking industry.
"(The operation) will significant hamper the production of speed."
AAP
Bikies raided over drug ring
May 26, 2004
SIMULTANEOUS dawn raids on properties in
three states has exposed a $22-million amphetamine network
allegedly organised by five bikie gangs, police said today.
About 350 police raided 26 properties in NSW and South Australia early this morning, with 17 people being arrested.
Two properties were raided in Queensland but there was no arrests.
Most of the raids were undertaken by 200 officers on 11 homes in the central-western NSW town of Dubbo, where the operation was allegedly based.
Police will allege five bikie gangs – the Rebels, Nomads, Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels and Finks – are part of a network manufacturing drugs such as cannabis and speed worth about $22 million.
The drugs were then being distributed by truck drivers, police will allege.
"(Police have) identified a criminal network with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs," NSW Drug Squad's Wayne Gordon said today.
Properties raided in NSW were at Dubbo, Wellington, Gilgandra, Sydney and Port Stephens.
Eleven men and two women were arrested and charged with drugs offences. They were to appear in Dubbo Local Court today.
Four men were arrested in SA after nine houses were raided in Adelaide and east of Adelaide.
They were expected to appear in Adelaide
Local Court today, charged with drug offences.
