Police have arrested 18 people and seized around 30 firearms, drugs and cash as part of a national joint operation to target and disrupt criminal activities linked to the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Police say a series of 20 coordinated search warrants and other operational activities were undertaken yesterday by police and other government agencies and partners from across Australia.
Law enforcement agencies involved included Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Western Australia Police, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police Service, South Australia Police and NSW Police Force.
“Eighteen people were arrested, including Mongols office bearers, members and associates, and charged with a range of offences,” a statement said.
A number of items were also seized including firearms, drugs, cash following the execution of almost 20 search warrants nationally.
Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Mick Frewen, speaking on behalf of National Task Force Morpheus, said it was imperative that law enforcement agencies across Australia continue to work to together to target OMCGs, including the Mongols.
“This is a group we know have traditionally been involved in violent crimes such as shootings, assaults, arson, drug trafficking, extortion and intimidation,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Frewen said.
“These activities bring immense harm to communities across Australia and often significantly impact innocent people who have no links to the OMCG.
“Organised criminal groups such as the Mongols aren’t a state-based problem, they remain a significant issue for law enforcement right across Australia and days of action such as this one provides the ideal opportunity for us to work together to target their offending and also gather intelligence.
“This benefits us by not only immediately removing offenders and their weapons or drugs from the community, but also builds our knowledge to support future investigations. “It’s important that criminal organisations such as the Mongols are held accountable for their criminal actions and this week shows that police will actively work to disrupt their activities.”
“The members of National Task Force Morpheus are committed to disrupting and dismantling the criminal networks linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs and will do everything within their powers to protect the community from the dangers outlaw motorcycle gangs pose.”
AFP Acting Commander Sascha Rayner said today’s activity shows that police continue to target OMCGs using both traditional and non-traditional law enforcement methods, including executing search warrants on clubhouses, investigating tax and welfare payments and monitoring travel movements and business activities.
“The community need to be aware that OMCGs are not harmless motorcycle clubs—they are well-organised criminal gangs causing harm and disruption across our country,” A/Cmdr Rayner said.
“The AFP continues to work closely with our domestic and international counterparts to detect, deter and disrupt all types of criminal activities undertaken by OMCGs both within Australia and overseas. State and international borders are no impediment to the joined-up efforts to combat these criminal groups and protect the Australian community.”
Queensland Police Crime and Intelligence Command A/Assistant Commissioner Katherine Innes said co-ordinated activities were an important part of disrupting OMCG criminal activity.
“These ongoing activities are based on real time intelligence, and in response to anti-social and violent behaviour by gang members, which impacts the safety of the community.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with our state, territory and Commonwealth partners to take action at every opportunity to dismantle and disrupt the illegal, anti-social and violent behaviours associated with OMCGs,” A/Assistant Commissioner Innes said.
National Task Force Morpheus is a joint initiative of Australia and New Zealand law enforcement and Australian Commonwealth agencies targeting the crime associated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG).
The National Taskforce has been working cooperatively to prevent OMCG from establishing in our communities to reduce harm and ensure community safety and wellbeing in public spaces. Anyone with information about OMCG activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.