OFF THE WIRE
BIKIES are being kicked out of their own clubhouses as part of a police strategy targeting building defects and fire safety breaches to seize drugs, pool tables, alcohol and firearms.
Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas told The Sunday Telegraph that five gangs had been evicted from their clubhouses in the past month.
In a 10-day blitz on the north coast, Tweed-Byron police and Strike Force Raptor detectives evicted the Odin's Warriors and Mongols from their clubhouses at South Tweed and Chinderah.
An antique cannon, shotgun, rifle and a firearm made from a cigarette lighter were seized from the clubhouses.
Hundreds of bottles of alcohol, bars and two pool tables were also taken. Mr Kaldas said local residents had congratulated detectives when they shutdown the Comanchero clubhouse at Tea Gardens on February 15.
"It's a small community there and they were cheering them on," Mr Kaldas said. The Life and Death motorcycle gang at Boolaroo and the Rebels in Newcastle were also booted from their clubs.
Mr Kaldas said after being banned from his clubhouse, the Life and Death president handed in his colours to police and said he was finished with bikie life.
"These bikies are a plague on modern society and we need to be vigilant about keeping on top of them," he said.
"Every day Raptor is knocking on doors and raiding clubhouses." Mr Kaldas said police were looking at other clubhouses across the state. "The Rebels are still the biggest gang in the state. The Hells Angels are also still a problem because they have more of an international reach and strong clubs mainly in the US."
Tweed-Byron Local Area Command Superintendent Stuart Wilkins said the bikie club bans would be enforced.
If bikie members returned to the clubhouses, they could be hit with fines and arrested.
"This means that we now have no bikie clubhouses in the Tweed-Byron region," Supt Wilkins said.
The Nomads Byron Bay clubhouse burnt down last month.
As part of the north coast operation, run with Gold Coast police and the AFP, eight gang members were arrested, 46 traffic infringements were handed out and a pill press was found in a suburban Tweed Heads home.
Northern Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Jeff Loy said pill presses weren't found in "mum and dad's backyard".
Mr Loy said the clubhouse closures were part of an ongoing attempt to disrupt the bikies business models but they understood that criminal groups would continue to adapt.
A 59-year-old Mongols associate was arrested and charged with drug supply, possess tablet press and also firearms offences.
At Cabarita, a 25-year-old Lone Wolf bikie was charged with drug supply, and ammunition possession after 64g of cocaine, three rounds of 30/30 ammunition and small amounts of steroids, MDMA and cannabis was seized.
Both men will appear in Tweed Heads Local Court.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/police-target-building-defects-in-new-ploy-to-boot-bikie-gangs-from-clubhouses/story-fni0cx4q-1226861917006
