Nine alleged members and associates of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang have been arrested and charged following a major police operation targeting a series of incidents in the Hunter Region, including alleged sexual touching, affray, and drug and firearm offences.
Weekend of Violence and Alleged Assaults
The police investigation was launched after a series of disturbing incidents at licensed venues in early November. On Saturday, November 1, a 25-year-old woman was allegedly sexually touched without consent on three separate occasions by an unknown man at a hotel in Merewether.
Later that same night, at the same venue, three men were allegedly involved in an affray. It is claimed that one of the men armed himself with a cutlery knife and threatened another patron.
The following weekend, on Saturday, November 8, police began investigating an alleged large-scale brawl at a licensed premises in Shoal Bay. It is alleged a group of men attacked patrons who were standing outside the venue.
Investigators from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District and the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad North later identified the men involved in these incidents as alleged members of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang.
Dawn Raids Across the Hunter
In a coordinated strike, police executed seven search warrants across the Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, and Maitland areas from about 6am on Wednesday, November 19.
The operation resulted in the following arrests and charges:
- Kurri Kurri: A 36-year-old man was charged with two counts of affray (relating to both the Merewether and Shoal Bay incidents) and supply prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Kurri Kurri Local Court on Tuesday, November 25.
- North Rothbury: A 33-year-old man was charged with two counts of affray, possess prohibited drug, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Singleton Local Court on Thursday, November 27.
- Rutherford: A 40-year-old man was charged with sexually touch another person without consent. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday, December 10.
Firearms and Drugs Located
During the raids, police allegedly located several firearms and drugs, leading to further serious charges.
- Maitland: A search warrant led to the alleged discovery of a gel blaster. A 38-year-old man was charged with affray (Shoal Bay incident) and two counts of firearm found at premises subject to prohibition order. A 28-year-old man was charged with possess unauthorised pistol, possess prohibited weapon, and supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. Both men were refused bail and appeared in court on Thursday, November 20.
- Windale: A 28-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested. The man was charged with affray and use offensive weapon in company relating to the Merewether incident. After a shotgun was located, he was also charged with multiple firearm offences, including possess unauthorised prohibited firearm. The woman was charged with firearm possession and safety offences. Both were refused bail.
- Bellbird: A 32-year-old man was charged with affray (Shoal Bay incident) and granted conditional bail. A 34-year-old man at a separate Bellbird address was charged with five counts of possessing a prohibited weapon (including a ballistic dart gun and knuckle dusters), firearm storage offences, and possess prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail.
The coordinated police action demonstrates a continued crackdown on organised criminal activity and violence linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs in regional New South Wales.
