OFF THE WIRE
A falling out between Toby Mitchell and Lebanese members of the Bandidos has
sparked fears of a war between the club and the Hells Angels.
Several
Lebanese crime figures associated with the Bandidos are believed to have been
recruited by the Hells Angels after clashing with Mitchell.
Sydney club
members are among those who have changed allegiances, but both camps have urged
interstate followers to back them up across Australia.
Police warned the
public on Tuesday that the club were on the brink of war after a second attempt
on Bandido enforcer Mitchell’s life was made on Friday night.
Police said
on Wednesday that they hoped to choke the bikie club network by raiding dozens
of properties. A suspected incendiary device, loaded guns, cash, drugs and
stolen jet-skis, cars and bobcats have been seized from the houses of club
associates.
Seven men were arrested, all with links to the Hells Angels.
Police said none were patched members, but that associates were often called on
to do club’ dirty work.
Four men, all aged in their 20s and from Epping,
Whittlesea and Thomastown, were charged with drug and property
offences.
Benjamin Pegoraro, 23, from Epping was charged with eight counts of
handling stolen goods and three counts of theft. Daniel Pegoraro, 27, from
Watsonia was charged with two counts of handling stolen goods. Lee Whittaker,
29, from Whittlesea was charged with five counts of handling stolen goods and
possessing a prohibited weapon, while Azzam Halabi, 24, was charged with conduct
endangering life.
All faced an out of sessions court hearing on Wednesday
night and were remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on
Thursday.
Two other men were charged and bailed, one for cultivating and
possessing a drug of dependence, the other for an outstanding warrant. One man
was released pending further inquiries.
Most of the 15 raided properties
were in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, but they included a caravan park near
Bendigo.
Hydroponic drug set-ups were found at several
properties.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana vowed to
continue the raids, with more expected on Wednesday night and Thursday.
He
said the Hells Angels Nomads chapter clubhouse in Thomastown had been raided on
Monday night, with a loaded sawn-off shotgun found in an ’’easily accessible’’
location.
The suspicious incendiary device was found at a property where
one of the men was arrested on Wednesday.
The bomb response unit is
investigating the device.
Mr Fontana stressed the force wasn’t focusing
on any one outlaw motorcycle club.
Operation Response has been formed to
tackle the club, and uniform patrols could increase in designated areas to quell
public fears.
’’Part of that is reassuring the community that we’re not going
to stand by and let this escalate any further,’’ he said.
’’There’s always a
risk of innocent bystanders being hurt. This is criminal and indiscriminate
activity and we want to put a stop to it.’’
Regional highway patrol units,
interstate police forces, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Crime
Commission have been consulted on the bikie feud.
Police were warned on
Monday to exercise caution when approaching club members who could be
armed.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-crackdown-aims-to-avert-allout-club-war-20130306-2flnf.html#ixzz2MnXHFRag
