ACT police chief Justine Saunders said the raids showed
bikies that the capital was a hostile jurisdiction and pledged to continue to
push for tough new laws targeting criminal motorcycle clubs. The ACT hosts chapters of three major outlaw clubs, the
Nomads, Comanchero, and Rebels.
A feud between the Nomads and Comanchero has been blamed for
tit-for-tat violence, including drive-by shootings, in Canberra's south.
Nationally, Wednesday's day of action was led by Operation
Morpheus, the national Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs taskforce, while the Canberra
search warrants were conducted by ACT Policing bikie busting group Taskforce
Nemesis.
Police said the raids across the capital uncovered three
firearms, 270 rounds of ammunition, about 28 grams of a substance believed to
be methylamphetamine, about 12 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine, and
more $50,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime.
In Victoria, seven people were charged with a variety of
offences and police seized motorcycles, drugs, cash, computers and more than $1
million-worth of alcohol. ACT deputy chief police officer crime Mark Walters said
disrupting the illegal activities of criminal gangs was a priority for ACT
Policing.
"This action is just one part of our ongoing efforts to
disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs in our community," Commander Walters
said.
"Taskforce Nemesis", supported by every ACT Policing
officer, continues to focus on serious and organised crime and apply pressure
to members of criminal gangs.
"We will continue to work collaboratively with our
state, territory and Commonwealth partners to address the threats posed by
criminal gangs."
Assistant Commissioner Justine Saunders said community
safety was paramount and ACT Policing would continue to work with the ACT
Government on laws to prevent and deter serious and organised crime and
associated firearms related violence in the capital.
"Whilst I fully support the principles of the Human
Rights Act that we operate under here in the ACT, I will continue to pursue
legislative reform that is proportionate to the threat that serious and
organised crime presents to our community," she said.
The 35-year-old Evatt man charged with firearms offences
will appear before the ACT Magistrate's Court at a later date.
SOURCE: The Sydney Morning Herald