Bandidos among 10 charged in Strike Force Raptor raids in Kurri Kurri, Greta and Thornton

Strike Force Raptor, the specialist unit tackling organised crime and motorcycle gangs, seized nine firearms as part of a proactive and high-visibility effort across the Northern Region.

Since Monday, officers conducted nine gun-related checks and eight searches at Weston, Kurri Kurri, Greta, Thornton, Coffs Harbour, Arakoon, South West Rocks and Kempsey.

Police said a Weston search, at noon on Monday, led officers to seize items including a wooden rifle, ammunition, a knife and cannabis.

They arrested a 31-year-old man before inspecting gun storage at a Kurri Kurri property and detecting a number of breaches, police said, with officers seizing five guns, including a shotgun and four bolt-action rifles.

The man, who police allege is a senior Bandidos member, was charged with possess prohibited drug, use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order, acquire firearm part without authority to do so and acquire firearm part (subject to prohibition order).

He received strict conditional bail and will next face court on August 11.

Officers separately inspected a gun safe at Greta on Tuesday, charging two men aged 63 and 41. The pair had their firearms licences suspended, and police seized four guns and a large quantity of ammunition. Inquiries continue.

Further north officers ran seven searches and two firearm protection raids in the Coffs Harbour area, arresting three men and a woman. All four were charged with drug-related offences and remain before the courts.

Arakoon searches about 6.30am on Thursday led officers to seize knuckle dusters, cocaine, cannabis, prescription medication and steroids. Two men - aged 30 and 54 and alleged to be Bandidos- will face court on drug possession offences.

A 23-year-old man was also charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess/attempt to anabolic or androgenic steroidal agent, possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance and four counts of possess prohibited drug. He received conditional bail to face a Kempsey Court on July 12.

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A South West Rocks search conducted at the same time led to a 32-year-old alleged Bandido issued a court attendance notice for drug possession, while a noon raid on Thursday at West Kempsey led officers to seize steroids and prescription medication.

A 47-year-old man was arrested and charged with possess prescribed restricted substance and possess prohibited drug. The alleged Bandidos member will face court on Friday.

Raptor Squad commander Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said the crackdown was designed to ensure public safety.

"Raptor to Squad has been working diligently to continue building on strategies suppress public acts of violence and target organised crime groups and illicit the activities that cause them," Det Supt Weinstein said.

"In light of recent events - where good, innocent people have been put in danger - these high-impact operations are just one tool in our arsenal against violent criminal groups.

"Raptor Squad will continue these operations, with assistant from specialist police and officers across the state, to ensure the safety of the community and to bring those involved in illicit activity to justice," Det Supt Weinstein said.

Investigations by Raptor Squad are continuing.

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