Hundreds of police involved in raids on Hells Angels and associates across Victoria

Updated

Victoria Police have arrested 13 people and seized weapons, ammunition and drugs in mass raids targeting the Hells Angels, but they failed to capture their main target - two high-powered military-style weapons.

In a huge show of force, more than 700 officers, including federal police, carried out around 60 raids on bikie clubhouses and other properties, including in the regional centres of Bendigo and Ballarat.

Police had been searching for an M1 carbine and an AK-47 - both military-style weapons suspected of being used in recent shootings by the Hells Angels and affiliates including the Nomads.

While they failed to find those, police seized a huge cache including a trailer-load of ammunition, handguns and shotguns, a crossbow, a sword, and drugs including pounds of marijuana plus a grow house containing 20 seedlings, steroids, powders, prescription medication, drugs believed to be amphetamines, and around $50,000 in cash.

Hells Angels sergeant at arms Peter 'Skitzo' Hewat was one of those arrested.

He has been remanded in custody on 13 charges, including possessing weapons, drugs and ammunition.

The 58-year-old applied for bail at an out-of-sessions court hearing in Melbourne, but his application was denied.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh says the operation targeted the Hells Angels because they have been the "aggressor" in recent clashes between rival gangs.

"[These are] people who've shown blatant disregard for the law. The community should be outraged by this criminal activity and there should be no support for these groups or these individuals," she said.

Ms Walsh says police expect to lay a number of charges.

She says despite the failure to locate the military weapons, the raids have been a "show of strength" that put criminals "on notice" following recent escalated tensions.

"I think it's been an incredibly successful operation in the people we've spoken to, the intelligence we've garnered and the things we've seized," she said.

Police tear down gate at Hells Angels clubhouse

Ms Walsh says most of those arrested have significant roles within the Hells Angels.

"Most were very compliant. Most of the executions were around about 6am. While there was some surprise, very thankfully no-one was injured in this operation," she said.

At the Hells Angels clubhouse on Heidelberg Road in Fairfield, in Melbourne's east, a 46-year-old man was arrested after refusing to open the gate to police.

The gate protecting the clubhouse was torn aside by officers and was left lying in the road outside the clubhouse.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Steve Fontana earlier said police were determined to track down the high-powered weapons being used by bikie gangs.

"The investigations and searches are still going," he said.

"At one address we've located a very large amount of ammunition. In fact we had to get a trailer in to cart it away. We're very concerned about the use of firearms by these OMCGs (outlaw motorcycle gangs)."

The crackdown comes after the introduction of new anti-fortification laws on Sunday, which allow police to tear down barriers, cameras and booby traps at club facilities.

Police say this morning's raids are not directly connected to the new anti-fortification laws, but they say they are committed to disrupting gang activity and have expressed concern that some gangs are armed with military-style weapons.

The raids also included agents from the AFP's anti-gambling taskforce as well as Customs and border security, the special operations group, and helicopter support.

"I want to send this out as a strong warning to other outlaw motorcycle gangs. If you get involved in these firearm-related incidents, we'll come down strong," Mr Fontana said.

"We'll continue our activities and focus on these gangs. If they want to get involved in these public displays or incidents using firearms where they're exposing not only their targets but innocent members of the community and even police at risk, we'll come down hard and continue to come down hard."

Tensions escalated following shootings

Three members of the Hells Angels faced court last week over a series of shootings in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs.

A tattoo parlour was sprayed with bullets at Dandenong on September 30.

A few hours later, an employee arrived at a gym in the nearby suburb of Hallam where shots had been fired at the business.

Makeshift bombs were thrown at the windows but did not explode.

A day later, a number of shots were fired at a Hells Angels clubhouse at Seaford.

Police say while they did execute a number of search warrants last week, the weapons used in those shootings, believed to be military-style weapons such as AK-47s or M1 carbines, were not located.

Five Comancheros were also arrested.

Three weeks ago Skitzo Hewat appeared in a Melbourne court charged with dozens of offences including aggravated burglary and assault.

Map: Locations of bikie raids in Victoria carried out on October 10, 2013

Map locations are approximate. At some locations more than one raid was carried out. Information provided by Vic Police.

Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, fairfield-3078, thomastown-3074, vic, ballarat-3350, bendigo-3550, seaford-3198

First posted