Senior bikies held in extortion probe
Senior members of the Commancheros bikie gang are among six people being questioned over the alleged extortion of a Northbridge business.
Police smashed their way into six properties linked to the gang, including its Northbridge clubhouse, in simultaneous dawn raids and seized a large amount of cash and a firearm.
Gang crime squad Det-Sgt Dean Lampard said the raids were the culmination of a long-running investigation into alleged extortion offences allegedly committed by members of the criminal gang.
He refused to reveal which legitimate business had been the target of the outlaw motorcycle gang or details of the extortion bid.
Six people were arrested, including senior members of the Commancheros.
Det-Sen. Sgt Jeff Christmass told WA Today police were concerned by the extortion allegations.
“The days of having to part with money to a particular person or criminal organisation for protection, those days are gone,” he said.
“That’s 1940s gangster stuff, Al Capone. It’s not the right thing to be done anywhere, particularly in Perth and we will not stand for it.”
Police investigating extortion claims raid a Northbridge business.
The raids come ahead of the ‘dob in a bikie’ campaign on Tuesday, with police urging people to report criminal activity involving the outlaw motorcycle clubs.
Police say nine bikie gangs, with more than 440 patched members, are operating in WA.
Det-Sgt Lampard said extortion carried a potential penalty of 14 years’ jail.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
