75 arrests, $120,000 seized by taskforce
Adelaide Advertiser, Page: 6. Wednesday, 20 February, 2008
A police taskforce set up to tackle bikies has made 75 arrests or reports, confiscated more than $120,000 in cash and seized a haul of drugs and firearms since it began operations late last year.
New government figures show The Crime Gangs Task Force, which replaced the anti-bikie taskforce Operation Avatar in October, has so far seized 75kg of cannabis, almost 3000 ecstasy tablets, 151g of amphetamines and 35 firearms.
It has also issued 51 barring orders preventing bikies from entering licensed venues. The new taskforce consisting of 44 police officers completed 14 separate operations.
It has arrested or reported 22 bikie gang members and their associates and 53 other people including members of street gangs. Charges from the operations have included attempted murder and home invasion, drug and weapons offences.
Some people have also been arrested for more minor crimes such as driving offences.
Police Minister Paul Holloway yesterday said further resources including criminal analysts, forensic accountants and legal officers could be added to the taskforce when tough new anti-bikie laws were passed in parliament.
“This is a very encouraging beginning for the new Crime Gangs Task Force,” he said.
“As the new anti-bikie laws debated in the Parliament last week are passed and come into force, police will have even more weapons with which to take on these criminal gangs.”
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