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July 21, 2006
Police involved in a three-month operation, codenamed Piston, raided seven properties early this morning, including the gang's clubhouse in Cronulla Avenue at Mermaid Beach.
Officers allegedly seized 25g of cocaine, a loaded pump-action shotgun and a revolver.
Police say they arrested the Bandidos local chapter president Sava Cvetkovic, 37, sergeant-at-arms John Michael Arnold, 48, and Brian Neville Peters, 28 - all from the Gold Coast - and charged them with demanding property with threats.
Cvetkovic also was charged with being armed in public and common assault.
Arnold had four additional charges laid against him - possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of "a thing for drugs" and "tainted property" ($7,000).
The three will face Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Detective Inspector Jim Keogh said the operation began after police received a complaint from a Southport motorcycle business about alleged standover tactics by Bandidos bikies, including demands for money and an assault.
"It is a major raid," Det Insp Keogh told reporters.
"It's something that's taken a considerable amount of time to prepare.
"It should send a clear message (to bikies) but obviously it's not."
In November last year police seized a huge quantity of drugs after raids on 26 Gold Coast properties, including the Lone Wolves gang's clubhouse.
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19862673-952,00.html
