Don’t have to look hard to find criminal underbelly

IT’S difficult to believe that our pristine island home has a criminal underbelly.

But Tasmania Police says organised crime is a major problem from the North-West to the South, with drug and firearm trafficking, money laundering, violence, threats and intimidation all lurking beneath the surface of Tasmania’s outlaw motorcycle gangs.

The state is home to six prescribed “1 per cent” gangs – the Bandidos, Rebels, Devil’s Henchmen,

WHO ARE TASMANIA’S BIKIE GANGS?

THERE are about 40 outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia, and there are six organisations with roots in Tasmania.

Detective Inspector Damien George said Tasmania Police has identified about 274 members across the state.

“We have a pretty significant presence per head of population of OMCG members in Tasmania – which is a concern,” he said.

“OMCGs like the Rebels, the Outlaws, the Devil’s Henchmen, the Black Uhlans, the Bandidos and the Nomads are first and foremost, organised criminal gangs.

“They would like you to believe that they’re a motorcycle club, but

Outlaws, Nomads, and Hells Angels.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission says OMCGs are the most high-profile manifestations of organised crime in the country, with a presence in every state and territory – and a significant presence in Tasmania.

Following a large-scale raid on the southern fishing town of Dover in June, Tasmania Police says it’s on the front foot in dismantling the physical presence and influence these groups have. the evidence speaks for itself that they are involved in illicit drug trafficking, they are involved in illicit firearm trafficking, they are involved in money laundering, they are involved in serious violence, threats and intimidation which impacts members of the community.”

BANDIDOS AND REBELS

The Bandidos were one of the most recent OMCG groups to enter Tasmania, with police trying to dismantle the gang in the state.

The group has previously claimed that no Bandidos member had engaged in serious criminal activity while being a member of the club in Tasmania, and that distribution, possession, or the use of methamphetamine was prohibited by club members. Tasmania Police said this was not the case.

“They established in Devonport and I’d suggest that out of the numbers or the membership of that group, 95 per cent of them have been charged with some significant criminal offences since their establishment,” Insp George said.

“They also established a Hobart chapter that then led to the activities down at Dover, so we’ve worked long and hard to disrupt the activities and establishment of the Bandidos and their footprint in Tasmania, to the point where there is no Hobart chapter currently.”

The Bandidos may be the major focus for police at present, but prior to their arrival in Tasmania, the Rebels were the strongest gang in the state.

Some of the club’s members were involved in a large drug seizure in 2014.

Last year the gang’s well-known North Hobart clubhouse was demolished after being a highly visible spot since the early 2000s.

AJ Graham, one of the founding members of the Rebels in Tasmania and a former president of the club’s Kingston chapter, was deported to New Zealand on character grounds in 2017.

WHERE ARE THE GANGS LOCATED?

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police National Anti-Gang Squad Sergeant Nick Gibson said on a national and international level, the size and influence of outlaw motorcycle gangs had expanded over the past decade.

“Since 2017 there’s been about a 50 per cent increase in gang members within Australia as well as offshore,” he said.

“They’re expanding their endeavours throughout different states, but also through parts of South-East Asia, through the Middle East, through the United States and using those channels and control of those areas to commit crimes that ultimately effect Australian citizens.”

He said different clubs were stronger in different areas of Tasmania.

“There’s a couple of larger ones such as the Rebels and the Outlaws who have a large member base so they cover a lot more of the state,” he said.

“Then there’s some smaller ones that might only be centred in Launceston or Devonport or Burnie.”