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PLANS by interstate bikie gangs to move into the Territory have
been thwarted by a high pressure campaign by police.
Northern Territory Police have been carrying out a number of
operations on the NT's only motorcycle gang - the Hells Angels -
to disrupt and discourage some of its activities.
The Northern Territiory News learned yesterday that police have
also been monitoring interstate bikie gangs including the Coffin
Cheaters from Western Australia and the Gypsy Jokers from South
Australia.
Police have gathered intelligence suggesting the gangs are
considering relocating and expanding operations.
The Gypsy Jokers in particular have made no secret that they are
planning to move their headquarters after the South Australian
Government passed laws to close down their fortified clubhouse.
Last year the Coffin Cheaters chose Darwin as the destination for
their annual run - despite having no affiliations up here.Police
intelligence suggested the club may have been sizing up the
Territory as a site for a new chapter.
"We've had individuals who have been members of other bikie
gangs who have come up here in the past but what we were
potentially facing was entire chapters of the clubs relocating to
the Territory," a police source said. "The Territory
was looking pretty attractive to them - and really why wouldn't
it?.
"You've had all these clubs getting grief everywhere else
and looking to relocate to where the 'quiet life' is - the
Territory looked good. There's little competition or grief from
other gangs, it's isolated and no pressure."
Last year NT Police called in the "super cops" from the
Australian Crime Commission to carry out an extraordinary
investigation into the clubs. The source said that news of the NT
police's high pressure tactics was spreading.
"We've heard that the bikies aren't so keen on the NT any
more," the officer said. "They're hearing through the
grapevine about the hassles that the HA is getting up here now
and we've not made any secret about the fact we're going after
them.
"I think the ACC flying in and out all the time with the HA
investigation is the final straw. I think they see it as a sort
of out of the frying pan into the fire situation.
"Whatever it is - the talk of relocating up here has died
down."
© The Australian
