Nervous bikies fear bleak future

Legal threats and financial scrutiny has Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs questioning future operations. Source: AFP

BIKIE insiders fear the beginning of the end for outlaw motorcycle gangs, with a tax office crackdown adding to the threat of legal decapitation by police.

The Australian Taxation Office has clawed back $1.4 million in unpaid tax while raking over the cash flows of Australia's biggest bikie gang the Rebels, it was revealed this week.

That followed a flurry of legal queries by Queensland gangs wondering if they were next in police sights under the state's Criminal Organisation Act.

The first police target, the Finks on the Gold Coast, failed last week in a High Court challenge to the laws.

The High Court decision cleared the way for a Supreme Court trial later to decide if the purpose of the club was to engage in criminal conspiracy.

Criminal lawyer Adam Magill said two other outlaw clubs had contacted him.

Amid rumours the ink was dry on police applications against the Hells Angels and Bandidos, one bikie told The Courier-Mail: "I don't think a lot of club members realise the implications of (the High Court decision)."

"It's bad news . . . this has the possibility of changing the whole outlook in Queensland and will roll on into the other states."

One legal source predicted Brisbane's "Nike Bikies", the Bandidos Centro chapter, which was implicated in the drug murder of Jack Lee last year, would be the next police target.

Assistant Police Commissioner Mike Condon has rejected suggestions bikie clubs would be pushed underground by the new laws.

"Part of their mandate is to be present, to be seen, and to ensure that people that they may have issues with know what they're about," he said.

Mr Condon refused to say if applications against other gangs were being drawn up, but indicated police might in the future target "other criminal networks and outlaw motorcycle groups".

Mr Magill said police would already have the necessary criminal intelligence on other clubs but would test uncharted legal waters with the Finks before drafting another application.

Supreme Court Justice David Boddice last week said a seven-week trial - which will hinge on whether or not the purpose of the Finks was to engage in serious criminal conspiracy - would take place no earlier than mid-October.

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Bikies arrested by 400 armed cops

Armed police have reportedly arrested high-ranking Comancheros and Hells Angels bikies in Sydney raids.

Police at the scene. Picture: John Grainger Source: The Daily Telegraph

The major police raid in Sydney's west. Pic: Craig Greenhill Source: The Daily Telegraph

Two search warrants are currently being undertaken in the Wollongong area.

The home of George Bubanja is among those raided - he is expected to be charged with drug offences.

Babunja is a major figure on the police radar and has been for many years.

His son, Dalibor, is currently in jail for murder In Sydney the home if Giacomo "Jack" Dipizio - the president-elect of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang - was raided on Hillary Street. His brother, Gianni, also had his house on Merrylands road at Merrylands raided.

Police will allege Gianni is not a member of a bikie gang but was the link for the Comanchero to Asian organised crime figures.

On Pearson Street at South Wentworthville police arrested Kamel "Blackie" Barakat  - he was brought out in handcuffs wearing only orange underwear.

A Harley Davidson motorbike was also seized at the address.

Earlier this morning, several high-ranking Comancheros and Hells Angels bikies were arrested during a massive police operation involving around 400 officers across Sydney and Wollongong.

Heavily armed teams from the elite Tactical Operations Unit raided two homes at Greystanes and South Wentworthville in Sydney’s west around 6.30 arresting two men - understood to be the President of the Comancheros and the Vice President of the Hells Angels Merrylands chapter.

Another man believed to be the brother of the Vice President of the Hells Angels Parramatta chapter was also arrested at his home at South Wentworthville.

Today’s operation, codenamed Strike Force Alistair, is the culmination of a 21-month highly covert joint investigation by State Crime Command detectives and the NSW Crime Commission.

Across the city, hundreds  of uniformed officers. State crime command detectives and specialists including the Riot Squad executed simultaneous raids on homes and premises including the Hells Angels clubhouse in Chinatown.

It is understood several senior crime figures from Balkan organised crime and Sing Ma, an Asian organised crime gang, have also been swept up in the net.

Those arrested today are expected to be charged with almost 100 serious drug and firearms offences including supply commercial quantities of drugs and trafficking guns and explosives.

Police will allege senior Balkan organised crime figures supplied a quantity of guns and explosives to a number of bikies which were intended to be used in the escalating war between the Hells Angels and the Comancheros.

During the investigation a large quantity of drugs and guns were seized along with more than half a million dollars in counterfeit money - allegedly belonging to the Comancheros.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is expected to hold a joint conference with head of the NSW Crime Commission, Peter Hastings later this morning.
 

With Ian Walker
 

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Bikies arrested by 400 armed cops

Police at the scene. Picture: John Grainger Source: The Daily Telegraph

The major police raid in Sydney's west. Pic: Craig Greenhill Source: The Daily Telegraph

Two search warrants are currently being undertaken in the Wollongong area.

The home of George Bubanja is among those raided - he is expected to be charged with drug offences.
Babunja is a major figure on the police radar and has been for many years.

His son, Dalibor, is currently in jail for murder In Sydney the home if Giacomo "Jack" Dipizio - the president-elect of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang - was raided on Hillary Street. His brother, Gianni, also had his house on Merrylands road at Merrylands raided.

Police will allege Gianni is not a member of a bikie gang but was the link for the Comanchero to Asian organised crime figures.

On Pearson Street at South Wentworthville police arrested Kamel "Blackie" Barakat  - he was brought out in handcuffs wearing only orange underwear.

A Harley Davidson motorbike was also seized at the address.

Earlier this morning, several high-ranking Comancheros and Hells Angels bikies were arrested during a massive police operation involving around 400 officers across Sydney and Wollongong.

Heavily armed teams from the elite Tactical Operations Unit raided two homes at Greystanes and South Wentworthville in Sydney’s west around 6.30 arresting two men - understood to be the President of the Comancheros and the Vice President of the Hells Angels Merrylands chapter.

Another man believed to be the brother of the Vice President of the Hells Angels Parramatta chapter was also arrested at his home at South Wentworthville.

Today’s operation, codenamed Strike Force Alistair, is the culmination of a 21-month highly covert joint investigation by State Crime Command detectives and the NSW Crime Commission.

Across the city, hundreds  of uniformed officers. State crime command detectives and specialists including the Riot Squad executed simultaneous raids on homes and premises including the Hells Angels clubhouse in Chinatown.

It is understood several senior crime figures from Balkan organised crime and Sing Ma, an Asian organised crime gang, have also been swept up in the net.

Those arrested today are expected to be charged with almost 100 serious drug and firearms offences including supply commercial quantities of drugs and trafficking guns and explosives.

Police will allege senior Balkan organised crime figures supplied a quantity of guns and explosives to a number of bikies which were intended to be used in the escalating war between the Hells Angels and the Comancheros.

During the investigation a large quantity of drugs and guns were seized along with more than half a million dollars in counterfeit money - allegedly belonging to the Comancheros.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is expected to hold a joint conference with head of the NSW Crime Commission, Peter Hastings later this morning.

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Bikies recruiting teens jogs memories

Shopping centres have been used as prime recruiting grounds by Hells Angels bikies. Source: The Daily Telegraph

POLICE have been inundated with information about bikie gangs attempting to lure teenagers into drug dealing in Sydney's Hills district, following an exclusive report in The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

"We have had been contacted by a lot of people with new information," Inspector Gary Bailey said.

"This could be from witnesses and new victims we did not know about.

"All of the information is now being assessed."

The Daily Telegraph reported Hells Angels members were using shopping malls to recruit, intimidate and rob teenagers, as well as extorting money from their parents.

Police said they had been aware of the problem for about six months and had increased patrols in the area as a result.

"This has forced offenders underground and we want the public to come forward so we can catch the offenders," Insp Bailey said.

"We have got some people who have been brave enough to come forward and tell us what's been happening."

Some parents have allegedly handed over thousands of dollars to bikies to stop their children being intimidated.

Insp Bailey said the group often targeted children who may have delved into drugs themselves.

Baulkham Hills state MP David Elliott warned parents to look out for any unusual behaviour - often an indication children were being bullied.

Insp Bailey said it was worrying that bikies could move into a family-orientated area and intimidate young people and their families.

Detectives have promised to protect the identities of anyone who comes forward with information on the issue.

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