Australia’s law enforcement and Commonwealth agencies have joined forces to establish a national Task Force to target one of Australia’s highest risk criminal threats—the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG).
The Attero National Task Force is aimed at targeting, disrupting, disabling, dismantling and investigating the criminal activity of the Rebels in Australia.
The Rebels is the largest OMCG in Australia with chapters in each State and Territory and also overseas.
The Task Force was established by the Serious and Organised Crime Coordination Committee (SOCCC) and subsequently endorsed as an Australian Crime Commission (ACC) Board approved Task Force.
The Task Force comprises all State and Territory Police agencies as well as the ACC, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), Australian Tax Office (ATO), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).
SOCCC Chair, NSW Police Acting Deputy Commissioner, Corporate Services, David Hudson said the Task Force was focussed on breaking the business model of the Rebels.
“There is a cost and risk of being a member of, or associated with, an OMCG, and this risk becomes greater as law enforcement sets their sights on these groups.”
“Members of the community are encouraged to assist Police in these efforts and report suspicious activity to Crime Stoppers. A strong partnership between law enforcement and the community will make it harder for members of any outlaw motorcycle gang to operate,” he said.
ACC Executive Director Intervention and Prevention Paul Jevtovic said the Task Force had a three-phase approach, which included gathering intelligence on the Rebels criminal activity and nationally coordinated disruption activities.
“The final phase will be a review of the activities and outcomes of the Task Force, with a view to targeting other OMCGS,” Mr Jevtovic said.
South Australia Police Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Osborn said the Task Force had already achieved significant results, including the arrest/report of more than 300 Rebels members or associates.
“Intelligence gained as a result of this Task Force has found Rebels members have been involved in illicit drug offending, money laundering, extortion and violence,” he said.
To date the Attero National Task Force has:
- Arrested/reported more than 330 people;
- Laid more than 500 charges ranging from violence related offences including serious assault, stalking, kidnapping and affray to a range of firearms and weapons offences, drug offences, property, street and traffic offences;
- Searched more than 300 premises;
- Seized over 40 firearms, as well as other weapons including knuckle dusters, tasers, a set of throwing stars, machetes, illegal knives and batons; and
- Seized drugs including amphetamines, cannabis, ecstasy and steroids.
The SOCCC is a nationally coordinated group comprising of representatives from all State and Territory law enforcement agencies and stakeholder Commonwealth agencies. Coupled with the Board of the ACC (made up of the heads of Australian law enforcement) this is a powerful coalition of strategic and operational capability.
