Two interstate outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members have been charged with affray and several counts of assault in relation to an incident in Devonport last weekend.
Shortly after 6am today, members of Tasmania Police and Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant at a rural property near New Norfolk where a Tasmanian OMCG member lives.
During the search, two men aged 23 and 30 from South Australia, who have been actively avoiding police, were arrested. They have since been charged and will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court later today.
The Tasmanian man will also face charges, after police located a quantity of drugs, gel blaster handguns styled to appear as real handguns and stolen property during their search.
Detective Acting Inspector Alex Bonde from Devonport CIB said the arrests followed some dedicated investigative work undertaken by Tasmania Police.
“We have made it unequivocally clear we won’t tolerate the type of thuggish behaviour that occurred in Devonport last weekend, and we will do everything we can to hold those responsible to account,” he said.
“By helping these men avoid police apprehension, the OMCG has shown that it condones violence within our community.
“Tasmania Police is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community members and we will continue to proactively target and disrupt OMCG activities.
“We have also identified a third man reportedly involved in the assaults from the weekend, and we’re working with our interstate counterparts to ensure he is held to account for his actions”.
Anyone with information about the incidents in Devonport, or about Outlaw Motorcycle Gang activity, should contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au
