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Canberra Today 15°/17° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

ACT Policing signs on to anti-bikie push

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SIMON Corbell has joined with ACT Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers to announce the ACT has joined a concerted national effort to disrupt, disable and dismantle the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs).

Taskforce Nemesis will use a dedicated team within ACT Policing’s Criminal Investigations to track, disrupt and arrest those members of outlaw motorcycle gangs involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, illegal firearms, money laundering, extortion and serious assaults.

Detectives from Taskforce Nemesis have been operating covertly for the past eight weeks. In that time the team has executed a number of search warrants across Canberra seizing firearms, weapons, drugs and anabolic steroids. Taskforce Nemesis is an extension of Operation Clarus, a team that has existed for several years within ACT Policing to target serious and organised crime within the territory.

Mr Corbell said the cross-border law enforcement network that has specifically targeted OMCG crime has ramped up steadily since the announcement of Project Attero in November 2012, which was established to target the Rebels OMCG.

Since then, the National Anti-Gangs Squad had been formed under the auspices of the Australian Federal Police to access data and information such as that held by the Australian Crime Commission, the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Ballistics Information Network, to assist police across all jurisdictions in their fight against OMCG activity.

“It is only through a combined national focus, and pooling of police intelligence across all jurisdictions, that we can properly target the harm, loss and disruption caused by outlaw motorcycle gangs. While the level of activity by outlaw motorcycle gangs is low in the ACT, we are not immune to the influence or activity of these gangs, which is why Taskforce Nemesis was created,” Mr Corbell said .

“These gangs have demonstrated a strong resilience to traditional law enforcement methods. They are highly mobile, operate across jurisdictions, and have no regard for the rule of law. The community needs to be aware that these are not motorcycle clubs, these are well-organised criminal gangs, and police will use all the tools and resources at their disposal to ensure these criminals are brought before the courts.”

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, has committed to supporting ACT Policing with access to resources and information through the National Anti-Gangs Squad including priority access to the ACC’s Australian Gangs Intelligence Coordination centre, where priority issues or threats have been identified.

Mr Corbell also urged members of the community to support the police effort by reporting the suspicious or criminal behaviour of OMCGs to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the website at act.crimstoppers.com.au

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