A 47-year-old Hunter man was among six people, believed to be members of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang, arrested and charged across the state on Wednesday after an alleged extortion attempt during which a 51-year-old man was seriously assaulted and his home set alight earlier this year.
Strike Force Raptor North detectives, with the help of local police, executed 10 search warrants at properties in Muswellbrook, Mudgee, Dubbo, Gulgong and Yarrawonga just after 7am.
Investigators seized 14 firearms, allegedly stolen from a Ruse home in 2017, ammunition, prohibited drugs, mobile phones and outlaw motorcycle gang paraphernalia during the raids.
Police arrested five men – one from Muscle Creek, near Muswellbrook, three from the Mudgee area and one from Dubbo – during the operation.
They arrested another man, 50, at Mudgee on Thursday.
Police will allege in court the men assaulted the 51-year-old after demanding a large amount of cash in July.
The Hunter man was charged with possession of ammunition without holding a licence or permit and acquiring ammunition subject to a prohibition order.
He was granted strict conditional bail and will face court on January 7.
A 37-year-old Putta Bucca man was charged with 16 firearms offences, robbery and detain for advantage.
He was refused bail to appear at Mudgee Local Court on November 29.
Two Mudgee men, aged 35 and 32, were charged with demanding money with menace and with intent to steal, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and participating in a criminal group contributing criminal activity.
They were granted strict conditional bail and are each due to appear at Mudgee Local Court on January 9.
A 27-year-old Dubbo man was charged with possession of a prohibited drug.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Dubbo Local Court on January 23.
The 50-year-old arrested at Mudgee on Thursday was charged with demanding money with menace and with intent to steal, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, and participating in criminal group contributing to criminal activity.
Criminal Groups Squad commander Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace praised the work of officers.
“Strike Force Raptor is relentless in its pursuit to disrupt the activities of OMCG members that pose a risk to the community at large,” she said.
“We will not tolerate any form of thuggery and will continue to knock on their doors and put them in the back of police cars until these criminal groups are dismantled.
“Anyone in the community who has information on organised criminal activity across the state, we want to hear from you.”
