Police raids in Lismore, Sydney smash bikie drug ring
Police have smashed what they say is a large-scale illicit drug supply ring allegedly run by the Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gang in Sydney and Lismore.
In a series of simultaneous early-morning raids, police arrested several high-ranking Lone Wolf bikies at a number of premises in Lismore and in Sydney’s north-west.
Drugs, a number of weapons including knives, swords and a revolver; cash and a drug lab were located during the raids.
Today’s operation involving more than 100 police follows a joint investigation by officers from the Richmond Local Area Command and State Crime Command Gangs Squad.
In May last year, Richmond Local Area Command’s Drug Unit launched Strike Force Tungarra, a strike force targeting the Lone Wolf Lismore chapter and its alleged ongoing supply and distribution of amphetamine (speed) and MDMA (ecstasy) in the Lismore area.
At 7am, State Protection Group (SPG) officers arrested a 46-year-old highly ranked Lone Wolf member during a raid at a remote farmhouse, located about 40 kilometres south of Lismore.
Teams of Operational Support Group (OSG) officers then stormed the Lone Wolf clubhouse in Terania Street, and raided a heavily fortified alleged drug house in Uralba Street, Lismore.
A 48-year-old senior Lone Wolf member was arrested at the clubhouse and a 35-year-old gang member was arrested at the alleged drug house.
The three Lismore Lone Wolf bikies have been taken to Lismore Police station where they will be charged with numerous drug offences including large commercial supply of ecstasy, commercial supply of amphetamine and ongoing supply of as well as drug house offences.
They will be refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today.
Richmond Local Area Commander, Superintendent Bruce Lyons, said it will be alleged members of the Lone Wolf OMCG controlled the illicit drug market in Lismore – supplied by their “brothers in arms” in Sydney.
“Police will allege there are clear drug supply links between the Sydney and Lismore chapters of the Lone Wolf OMCG,” Supt Lyons said.
“We allege the drug market in Lismore has been dominated by gang members who were operating a well-organised business — today’s arrests will significantly impact the trade of speed and ecstasy particularly in this town.
“My officers will continue to target and destroy drug supply networks and to go after and shut down the organised crime syndicates involved.”
In Sydney’s north-west this morning State Crime Command Gangs Squad detectives arrested four men alleged to be members and associates of the Lone Wolf OMCG.
At a house in Yarrara Road, Pennant Hills, detectives will allege they located evidence of a clandestine amphetamine laboratory. A quantity of chemicals, glassware and other paraphernalia associated with the manufacture of illicit drugs has been seized by police for forensic examination.
A 32-year-old man was arrested at his home in Marayong about 7.30am and is at Quakers Hill Police Station being questioned. It is expected he will be charged with 15 drug supply offences.
At Hornsby Police Station detectives are questioning a 29-year-old Cherrybrook man, as well as a 21-year-old man arrested at the Pennant Hills home this morning.
Shortly before midday a 30-year-old Pennant Hills man was arrested and has since been taken to Ryde Police Station where he is being questioned.
It will be alleged during Operation Tungarra police seized more than 2000 MDMA tablets worth an estimated potential street value of $60,000 during a vehicle stop at Normanhurst.
A 30-year-old Kurrajong man arrested at the scene was subsequently charged with supply large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug. He appeared in Parramatta Local Court on 12 May and is currently on conditional bail to appear in Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday 31 July.
Since May police have charged 81 bikies and their associates with more than 250 offences as part of the Statewide crackdown on bikies, known as Operation Ranmore.
In the past week raids have been carried out on OMCG clubhouses in Sydney, Batemans Bay on the south coast and Lismore.
Gangs Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Scott Whyte, said: “The arrests today are the culmination of a long-term operation by the Richmond LAC and Gangs Squad that will severely impact on drug supply in the Northern Rivers area.
“It’s a clear indication of the type of criminal activity outlaw motorcycle gangs are involved in.
“Today’s operation demonstrates our capacity to tackle the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs. These kinds of operations will continue across the State to target gangs at all levels.”
Anyone with information on OMCG-related crime is urged to contact the State Crime Command Gangs Squad via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information can be given anonymously and in the strictest confidence.
