Police at the scene. Picture: John Grainger Source: The Daily Telegraph
The major police raid in Sydney's west. Pic: Craig Greenhill Source: The Daily Telegraph
Two search warrants are currently being undertaken in the Wollongong area.
The home of George Bubanja is among those raided - he is expected to be charged with drug offences.
Babunja is a major figure on the police radar and has been for many years.
His son, Dalibor, is currently in jail for murder In Sydney the home if Giacomo "Jack" Dipizio - the president-elect of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang - was raided on Hillary Street. His brother, Gianni, also had his house on Merrylands road at Merrylands raided.
Police will allege Gianni is not a member of a bikie gang but was the link for the Comanchero to Asian organised crime figures.
On Pearson Street at South Wentworthville police arrested Kamel "Blackie" Barakat - he was brought out in handcuffs wearing only orange underwear.
A Harley Davidson motorbike was also seized at the address.
Earlier this morning, several high-ranking Comancheros and Hells Angels bikies were arrested during a massive police operation involving around 400 officers across Sydney and Wollongong.
Heavily armed teams from the elite Tactical Operations Unit raided two homes at Greystanes and South Wentworthville in Sydney’s west around 6.30 arresting two men - understood to be the President of the Comancheros and the Vice President of the Hells Angels Merrylands chapter.
Another man believed to be the brother of the Vice President of the Hells Angels Parramatta chapter was also arrested at his home at South Wentworthville.
Today’s operation, codenamed Strike Force Alistair, is the culmination of a 21-month highly covert joint investigation by State Crime Command detectives and the NSW Crime Commission.
Across the city, hundreds of uniformed officers. State crime command detectives and specialists including the Riot Squad executed simultaneous raids on homes and premises including the Hells Angels clubhouse in Chinatown.
It is understood several senior crime figures from Balkan organised crime and Sing Ma, an Asian organised crime gang, have also been swept up in the net.
Those arrested today are expected to be charged with almost 100 serious drug and firearms offences including supply commercial quantities of drugs and trafficking guns and explosives.
Police will allege senior Balkan organised crime figures supplied a quantity of guns and explosives to a number of bikies which were intended to be used in the escalating war between the Hells Angels and the Comancheros.
During the investigation a large quantity of drugs and guns were seized along with more than half a million dollars in counterfeit money - allegedly belonging to the Comancheros.
Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione is expected to hold a joint conference with head of the NSW Crime Commission, Peter Hastings later this morning.
With Ian Walker
