Bikie raid nets guns, child-porn

[Tom]

POLICE have seized a cache of firearms including a machine-gun, drugs and child pornography in a series of raids on properties linked to a motorcycle gang in Melbourne and country Victoria early today.

 

Five people were arrested during the raids, conducted simultaneously at Warragul and Longwarry, south-east of Melbourne, and in the south eastern suburbs of Noble Park, Carrum Downs and Seaford, about 5.30am (AEST) today.

Police raided a clubhouse at Warragul and six other premises, all linked to the Coffin Cheaters motorcycle gang.

 

Baw Baw district Inspector Keith Cantle said the list of seized items included:

 

A machine-gun, an assault rifle, at least four pistols and four shotguns;

 

A large quantity of drugs, including marijuana and powder believed to be amphetamine;

 

Two hydroponic systems;

 

A small amount of child pornography on computer disks;

 

A large amount of alcohol.

The alcohol, seized from the clubhouse, included beer and spirits and was seized because of licensing offences, Insp Cantle said.

 

Five people - a 37-year-old Warragul man, a 47-year-old Noble Park man, a 36-year-old Carrum Downs man,d a 44-year-old Seaford woman and a 31-year-old Narre Warren man - were arrested following the raids today, Insp Cantle said.

 

It was likely all would be charged with a range of weapons and drugs offences, and the Warragul man would be charged for possession of child pornography, he said.

 

The raids were part of a six month investigation of the activities of the Coffin Cheaters gang, Insp Cantle said.

 

"It was a very good morning's work but it was the culmination of a lot of hard work," he said.

 

"All the warrants were executed simultaneously. There was no resistance."

 

The arrests were not related to a series of raids on premises linked to the Outlaws motorcycle gang last month, Insp Cantle said.

 

On May 18, 10 men were charged following 27 raids on properties in outer suburban Melbourne, including two Outlaws motorcycle gang clubhouses.

 

Those raids netted more than $500,000 worth of stolen property including five cars, 12 firearms including several shotguns and a pistol, a crossbow, a cache of ammunition, a balaclava, vehicle parts and a small quantity of cannabis, police said.

 

Author:Jamie Duncan

Date:June 10, 2005

Source:AAP

Copyright:Copyright 2005 News Limited.

 

[Tom]

Second man charged after bikie gang raids.

 

Police have charged a second Gippsland man after raids on properties connected to the Coffin Cheaters motorcycle gang.

 

Warragul and Morwell police raided homes and a Coffin Cheaters' clubhouse in Olympic Court, Warragul, in south-east Victoria, early on Friday morning.

 

Police allege they seized drugs, a machine gun, loaded pistols with silencers and child pornography. Late yesterday, Warragul police interviewed a 34-year-old Longwarry man.

 

He will be charged on summons for possession of cannabis and fireworks.

 

Michael James Dawson, 37, of Warragul, is charged with possession of cannabis, possession of high powered ammunition and possession of child pornography.

 

He is due to appear in the Moe court next month.

 

In total, five men and one woman have been charged in relation to the raids.

 

Author:ABC

Date:Wednesday, June 15, 2005.

Source:ABC

Copyright:© 2005 ABC