Arabic version: شرطة كوينزلاند توجه اتهامات إلى 23 رجلاً في عملية ضد «ريبيلز»

According to ABC News, Queensland Police have charged 23 men in a statewide operation targeting the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

The Queensland Police Service said officers executed 25 search warrants from the Gold Coast to Cairns yesterday. Investigators had identified alleged Rebels members wearing vests bearing subdued or blacked-out versions of the gang’s insignia in public.

Police said the modified vests still identified their wearers as members of the Rebels group. Queensland law prohibits clothing, jewellery or accessories displaying the logos or “colours” of identified organisations, including several gangs.

The men charged are aged from 29 to 67 and face a combined 44 offences, including 23 charges of wearing or carrying a prohibited item. Authorities allege 10 are senior Rebels members, including three presidents, a treasurer, a secretary and three state representatives.

Detective Superintendent Troy Pukallus said the operation was intended to disrupt the group’s ability to publicly display and promote its organisation while supporting intelligence gathering and organised-crime investigations. Police also seized Rebels vests, firearms, weapons, cocaine and other drugs, issued a weapons licence revocation and two consorting notices. Investigations are ongoing.