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8- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 30, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Warehouse Sale 40% off All If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. Hells Angels arrested in early morning police raids By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Toy Tales Educational · Hopedale Mall Oakville (3rd Line & Rebecca St) 905-901-9612 · www.toytaleseducational.ca All the dough goes to a great cause. Tim Hortons is heating up for Smile Cookies, the fundraising effort that benefits both you and our community. Here's how it works: you buy a $1.00 double-sized chocolate chip Smile Cookie and we donate all proceeds to ERINOAK, helping children with physical, developmental and communication disabilities achieve and maintain optimal levels of independence, health and well-being. A province-wide crackdown on the Hells Angels Motorcycle Gang resulted in the early-morning raids of three Oakville homes Thursday, which led to five arrests. One member of the Hells Angels and three associate members, all from the Windsor chapter, were among those arrested. Police say drugs, handguns "It was a very and ammunition were seized complex investigation, during the 6 a.m. Thursday raids, which Sgt. Peter Payne and it concluded with of the Halton Regional Police a very complex series Public Affairs Unit described as of arrests." "very involved." "It was very complex in Sgt. Peter Payne, investigation, and it concluded Halton Regional Police with a very complex series of Public Affairs Unit arrests," he said, adding no one was injured. These raids were part of a province-wide covert joint forces police investigation called Project Tandem, which started 18 months ago and keyed in on suspected biker gangs. Two Halton Regional police investigators were assigned to work with the Provincial Biker Enforcement Unit on Project Tandem, and were investigating Hells Angels and other biker gang activity in the region. The simultaneous cross-province raids Thursday resulted in 27 arrests, and more than 500 police officers were involved. Oakville's raids led to the arrest of Craig McIlquham, 36, a member of the Hells Angels' Windsor Chapter, said police. Officers carried out a search warrant at his Chancery Lane home and seized illegal drugs and a loaded handgun. McIlquham is charged with "numerous drug and weapons offences," said Payne. So is associate member of the Hells Angels Windsor chapter, Giuliano Raimondo, 34. Police say they searched his Pelee Boulevard home and seized illegal drugs and ammunition. His common-law wife, Cathleen Meeking, 29, is also charged in connection with a number of drug offences. Another associate of the Hells Angels Windsor chapter, Mark Rizek, 36, was also arrested in Oakville early Thursday. Police say they seized illegal drugs and a loaded handgun during their search of his Glen Hampton Road home. Rizek, too, is charged with numerous drug and weapon offences. On top of the raids, police also busted associate members of the Hells Angels police allege were transporting three kilograms of cocaine across the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre parking lot Thursday at 6:30 a.m. Former Oakville resident Marin O'Boyle, 38, who now lives in Hamilton, is charged with numerous drug offences. "These were all arrests made as a result of our investigations. This is something we, the police, have been aware of and have been monitoring for some time," said Payne. "It's part of our ongoing efforts along with other participating police agencies to reduce the influences of organized crime." Halton Police had 17 police officers and 16 members of the Halton Tactical Rescue Unit participating in the arrest portion of the investigation. "The Hells Angels Motorcycle Gang is a criminal organization, and they are a danger to society and a danger to the citizens of the Halton region," said Payne. Should any member of the public become aware of anything relating to organized crime, or the Hells Angels in particular, we would ask if they could please contact us. That way, we can continue to protect our community."