Gang busted as police float new anti-bikie laws

Victoria Police have floated a ban on outlaw motorcycle gangs wearing club colours after the force claimed a major organised crime scalp.

Fifteen people will front court on Friday after being charged by the Echo Taskforce as part of a probe into a large-scale Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate operating in Melbourne.

Since launching an investigation in October 2020, police allege the group laundered money through property, companies and high-end vehicles.

Police raided more than 75 properties and seized more than $40 million in assets, including about $2.2 million in cash, a stolen $400,000 Porsche, five firearms and large quantities of heroin, ice and cocaine.

A 52-year-old Roxburgh Park man is the alleged head of the syndicate and has been charged with a multiple offences related to dealing with the proceeds of crime. He and a 32-year-old Broadmeadows woman have already fronted court.

In all, 24 people linked to the syndicate have been charged with a range of Commonwealth money laundering offences, including the 13 men and two women who will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

It comes as police push for new laws to crackdown on bikie gangs wearing patches and badges with their insignias in public, bringing Victoria into line with Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The Victorian government is considering the move alongside a number of recommendations as part of a review into criminal organisation laws.

“We commissioned the stage two review of Victoria’s criminal organisation laws to ensure the laws on organised crime in Victoria are as strong as possible,” a government spokesman said.

“We’ll continue to work through the recommendations with Victoria Police to give them the tools they need to continue to deal with criminal behaviour.”