Crime WA police seize 30 tonnes of gold-bearing ore at back yard refinery allegedly linked to bikies

[LeonardoBjj]

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Police charge 20 people with a total of 56 offences in three-day Kalgoorlie operation as part of crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs

Jordyn Beazley
Wed 24 Jan 2024 04.10 GMT

Western Australian police say they have busted a backyard gold refinery in Kalgoorlie, seizing more than 30 tonnes of gold-bearing ore that was allegedly stolen from the region’s mines.
Investigators believe the alleged racket was connected with outlaw motorcycle gangs, and the gold-bearing ore was stolen with the intention of refining and laundering the gold to gain cash to purchase illicit drugs that would be sold to the community.

Police arrested and charged 20 people with a total of 56 offences over three days, including alleging they possessed stolen or unlawfully obtained gold-bearing ore and were in possession of a firearm and illicit drugs.

It comes amid a broader crackdown in the state on bikie gangs after the state government said at the end of last year it planned to toughen anti-bikie laws introduced in 2021 that are already the strictest in the country.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, ChemCentre and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services assisted police due to the dangers of processing gold-bearing ore in residential homes, police said.

Det Insp Adrian Vuleta said while businesses involved in gold extraction had established safe processes and control measures, those engaged in back yard improvised extraction processes exposed themselves and neighbours to increased health risks from chemicals.

“This operation was not only important to protect the community from those extraction-related risks, but to prevent the stealing of the end gold product which we believe was being laundered to obtain cash to fund the purchase of illicit drugs such as methylamphetamine to sell in the community,” Vuleta said.

WA’s minister for police, Paul Papalia, accused outlaw motorcycle gangs of “greed” and said this particular case was “selfish and idiotic”.

“We’re committed to disrupting and dismantling [outlaw motorcycle gang] activity across WA. That’s why the government introduced the toughest bikie laws in the country,” he said of the laws which ban bikies from publicly showing their gang colours.

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ckyard-refinery-kalgoorlie-alleged-bikie-link

 

[Ruprecht]

Would have been a bit of work, but for Kalgoorlie you needed a Lego pit.

Spoiler: Kalgoorlie

 

[nhbfan8080]

​

Police charge 20 people with a total of 56 offences in three-day Kalgoorlie operation as part of crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs

Jordyn Beazley
Wed 24 Jan 2024 04.10 GMT

Western Australian police say they have busted a backyard gold refinery in Kalgoorlie, seizing more than 30 tonnes of gold-bearing ore that was allegedly stolen from the region’s mines.
Investigators believe the alleged racket was connected with outlaw motorcycle gangs, and the gold-bearing ore was stolen with the intention of refining and laundering the gold to gain cash to purchase illicit drugs that would be sold to the community.

Police arrested and charged 20 people with a total of 56 offences over three days, including alleging they possessed stolen or unlawfully obtained gold-bearing ore and were in possession of a firearm and illicit drugs.

It comes amid a broader crackdown in the state on bikie gangs after the state government said at the end of last year it planned to toughen anti-bikie laws introduced in 2021 that are already the strictest in the country.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, ChemCentre and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services assisted police due to the dangers of processing gold-bearing ore in residential homes, police said.

Det Insp Adrian Vuleta said while businesses involved in gold extraction had established safe processes and control measures, those engaged in back yard improvised extraction processes exposed themselves and neighbours to increased health risks from chemicals.

“This operation was not only important to protect the community from those extraction-related risks, but to prevent the stealing of the end gold product which we believe was being laundered to obtain cash to fund the purchase of illicit drugs such as methylamphetamine to sell in the community,” Vuleta said.

WA’s minister for police, Paul Papalia, accused outlaw motorcycle gangs of “greed” and said this particular case was “selfish and idiotic”.

“We’re committed to disrupting and dismantling [outlaw motorcycle gang] activity across WA. That’s why the government introduced the toughest bikie laws in the country,” he said of the laws which ban bikies from publicly showing their gang colours.

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ckyard-refinery-kalgoorlie-alleged-bikie-link

I think Australia doesn't have RICO law which makes it harder to come down hard on biker gangs. Just banning gang colors isn't going to cut it. RICO allows the police to tap everyone connected and freeze assets.

 

[Ruprecht]

I think Australia doesn't have RICO law which makes it harder to come down hard on biker gangs. Just banning gang colors isn't going to cut it. RICO allows the police to tap everyone connected and freeze assets.

The state anti-bikie laws have gone much further than that. They were based on the post 911 anti terrorist hyper-legislation and don't even respect freedom of association.

 

[Staph infection]

I thought this was going to be about the state of Washington. I was thinking where are gold reserves up there.

This would have been a lot cooler if they were smuggling this gold ore dirt out of the area using kangaroos wearing backpacks.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

Would have been a bit of work, but for Kalgoorlie you needed a Lego pit.

Spoiler: Kalgoorlie

- That place looks unrealistic! The size of that canyon!

 

[LeonardoBjj]

The state anti-bikie laws have gone much further than that. They were based on the post 911 anti terrorist hyper-legislation and don't even respect freedom of association.

- Can you explain?

 

[Ruprecht]

- Can you explain?

The anti-bike laws make it illegal for anyone designated as a member to gather together and associate with each other. Literally they can be charged for talking to each other. It goes one step beyond guilt by association to association itself being a crime.
That's in addition to all the proceeds of crime legislation and legislation criminalising clubhouses etc.
Prior to the hyperlegislation following 911, freedom of association and freedom of assembly were considered fundamental rights.
Both the anti-bikie laws and anti-protest laws reversed that, based on the precedent of the anti-terror laws.
Technically we are still signatories to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, our legislation just ignores them.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

The anti-bike laws make it illegal for anyone designated as a member to gather together and associate with each other. Literally they can be charged for talking to each other. It goes one step beyond guilt by association to association itself being a crime.
That's in addition to all the proceeds of crime legislation and legislation criminalising clubhouses etc.
Prior to the hyperlegislation following 911, freedom of association and freedom of assembly were considered fundamental rights.
Both the anti-bikie laws and anti-protest laws reversed that, based on the precedent of the anti-terror laws.
Technically we are still signatories to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, our legislation just ignores them.

- This is stupidy. Not all bikers are criminal. And talking to a criminal, doesnt make someone one.

 

[Scerpi]

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Police charge 20 people with a total of 56 offences in three-day Kalgoorlie operation as part of crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs

Jordyn Beazley
Wed 24 Jan 2024 04.10 GMT

Western Australian police say they have busted a backyard gold refinery in Kalgoorlie, seizing more than 30 tonnes of gold-bearing ore that was allegedly stolen from the region’s mines.
Investigators believe the alleged racket was connected with outlaw motorcycle gangs, and the gold-bearing ore was stolen with the intention of refining and laundering the gold to gain cash to purchase illicit drugs that would be sold to the community.

Police arrested and charged 20 people with a total of 56 offences over three days, including alleging they possessed stolen or unlawfully obtained gold-bearing ore and were in possession of a firearm and illicit drugs.

It comes amid a broader crackdown in the state on bikie gangs after the state government said at the end of last year it planned to toughen anti-bikie laws introduced in 2021 that are already the strictest in the country.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, ChemCentre and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services assisted police due to the dangers of processing gold-bearing ore in residential homes, police said.

Det Insp Adrian Vuleta said while businesses involved in gold extraction had established safe processes and control measures, those engaged in back yard improvised extraction processes exposed themselves and neighbours to increased health risks from chemicals.

“This operation was not only important to protect the community from those extraction-related risks, but to prevent the stealing of the end gold product which we believe was being laundered to obtain cash to fund the purchase of illicit drugs such as methylamphetamine to sell in the community,” Vuleta said.

WA’s minister for police, Paul Papalia, accused outlaw motorcycle gangs of “greed” and said this particular case was “selfish and idiotic”.

“We’re committed to disrupting and dismantling [outlaw motorcycle gang] activity across WA. That’s why the government introduced the toughest bikie laws in the country,” he said of the laws which ban bikies from publicly showing their gang colours.

https://www.theguardian.com/austral...ckyard-refinery-kalgoorlie-alleged-bikie-link

"seizing more than 30 tonnes of gold-bearing ore that was allegedly stolen from the region’s mines."

How does this work exactly? Did they actually mine the gold themselves from existing mines?

Or steal gold ore that was already mined?

Were they planning to build Minecraft Ovens to shit out the gold after smelting it?

lol... Sounds like the most Aussie thing ever.

Next the bikers will be taking over Oil Refineries...

 

[Ruprecht]

- This is stupidy. Not all bikers are criminal. And talking to a criminal, doesnt make someone one.

Yeah, although it's not automatically any biker group, it's the bikie gangs. Ulysses club etc aren't under threat or anything.
They have a naughty list. Same as the terror laws. Very arbitrary and of course relies on government not simply putting political opponents, unions, labour organisations etc on the list.

 

[mjfan23]

Gold and precious metal theft must have shot up with the appreciation in precious metals prices

 

[Ruprecht]

"seizing more than 30 tonnes of gold-bearing ore that was allegedly stolen from the region’s mines."

How does this work exactly? Did they actually mine the gold themselves from existing mines?

Or steal gold ore that was already mined?

Were they planning to build Minecraft Ovens to shit out the gold after smelting it?

lol... Sounds like the most Aussie thing ever.

Next the bikers will be taking over Oil Refineries...

Supposedly they were using mercury to do it dirty. Apparently 30 tonnes of this grade of ore is only expected to produce about $30K worth of gold.

 

[nhbfan8080]

The state anti-bikie laws have gone much further than that. They were based on the post 911 anti terrorist hyper-legislation and don't even respect freedom of association.

Did Australian states passed those tough anti bikie laws more recently?
In the US, the anti racketeering laws got pushed through by JFK who went after the mafia way back in the 1960s.

 

[Ruprecht]

Did Australian states passed those tough anti bikie laws more recently?
In the US, the anti racketeering laws got pushed through by JFK who went after the mafia way back in the 1960s.

Yeah, only started in 2001, but really ramped up after the ongoing introduction of ridiculous amounts of anti-terror legislation compromised civil liberties.