2LT Local News

MUDGEE, Central West, NSW, Australia – A Mudgee man who is a member of a bikie gang was arrested at Mudgee Police Station on Thursday on charges relating to alleged extortion.

The 50-year-old man who is a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, is accused of assaulting a 51-year-old man and demanding a large sum of cash from him in July this year.

He has been charged with demand money with menaces with intent to steal, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and participation in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity.

The man was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Mudgee Local Court on Wednesday 9 January 2019.

His arrest is the sixth arrest under Strike Force Raptor.

In August, the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North commenced an investigation following reports the 51-year-old man had been seriously assaulted and his house set on fire as part of an alleged extortion.

Following inquiries, Raptor North, with the assistance of officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District, Western Region Operational Support Group, and Hunter Valley Police District, executed 10 search warrants at properties across Mudgee, Dubbo, Gulgong, Yarrawonga, and Muswellbrook, just after 7am on Wednesday.

Investigators seized several items from these locations, including 14 firearms, of which three were allegedly stolen from a home in Ruse in December 2017, ammunition, prohibited drugs, mobile phones, and OMCG paraphernalia.

Five men were charged during the operation and remain before the courts.