Police arrest a man on the NSW Central Coast during an operation targeting alleged Rebels members.
Police arrest a man on the NSW Central Coast during an operation targeting alleged Rebels members.
The 14 men and three women, aged between 23 and 52, have been charged with a range of offences, including affray, participating in a criminal group, drug dealing, malicious damage and intimidation.
Police said drugs, cash, weapons, ammunition, drug paraphernalia and reptiles were seized in the raids at homes in Lisarow, Killarney Vale, Budgewoy, Hamlyn Terrace, Mannering Park, Wyoming, Kangy Angy and The Entrance.
In a video file supplied to media by police, Gangs Squad Superintendent Deborah Wallace said the raids were the conclusion of a year-long operation targeting the Rebels on the Central Coast.
"Up to 16 search warrants, 17 arrests of members and associates, and over 60 charges laid," she said.
"These charges range from violence offences, firearms offences, drug supply, consorting, and pervert the course of justice."
Superintendent Wallace said during the operation police executed 14 search warrants, 11 firearm prohibition orders and served in excess of over 40 taxation notices.
"There's no doubt in the world that these arrests and this entire operation - the search warrants, the service of the firearms prohibition orders, the service of the taxation notices will have a significant impact.
"We have seen in-roads being made right across the country. We're actually weakening their resolve and I think causing significant disruption to their criminal enterprises right across the country.
"This will not stop. We will continue to disrupt and disable this gang in any way we can.
"All outlaw motorcycle gangs, of which the Rebels is one, are certainly formidable in their capabilities, resources and resilience.
"Their capacity to recover is significant so we always have to maintain the pressure."
She said more arrests were expected.
More than 200 officers were involved in the operation, including detectives from Strike Force Gateley formed to investigate the activity of the Rebels on the Central Coast.
