A senior member of the Outlaws outlaw motorcycle gang has been charged with serious firearm offences following a major police investigation.

The 39 year old Bracknell man was arrested at a Bracknell residence today and tonight was

charged with the following offences:

• Breach of Firearms Prohibition Notice
• Possess firearms when not the holder of a firearms licence of the appropriate category
• Possess unregistered firearm
• Possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearms licence of the appropriate category
• Unlawful possession – explosives.
• Breach of Police Family Violence Order

The man has been detained in custody to appear an out of hours session of the Launceston Magistrates Court tomorrow at 10am.

“Tasmania Police has been conducting an investigation into firearms possession by outlaw motorcycle

gangs.  Tasmania Police executed a number of search warrants on residences in north and northwest Tasmania today.  This intervention continues policing efforts to dismantle and disempower outlaw motorcycle gangs and follows recent shootings in Victoria involving outlaw motorcycle gangs,” Detective Acting Inspector John Parker said.

Police located an automatic weapon, a pistol, several other firearms, a large quantity of ammunition and explosives from several premises in northern Tasmania today.

“We will continue to actively disrupt the illicit activities of outlaw motorcycle gang members and those people who choose to associate with them and want the community to be reassured that that the criminal behaviour exhibited by members of these gangs won’t be tolerated,” Detective Acting Inspector Parker said.

Anyone with information about the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs can report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au