POLICE have vowed to disrupt, dismantle and crack down on the state's bikie gangs after implicating them in an ice surge throughout Tasmania.
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The amount of amphetamine-type drugs, including ice, seized by police is already twice what it was last financial year at nearly three kilograms since July.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine told The Examiner that outlaw motorcycle gangs were firmly in the sights of police who would rely on non-traditional methods to take them down.
"Outlaw motorcycle gangs are a concern for us," he said.
"Where we can disrupt, we'll disrupt, we'll dismantle and focus on their assets they're making out of their activities."
The policing methods involve colluding with the Australian Tax Office, Customs and the Australian Crime Commission with a focus on asset seizure.
Police are already working on their first case to strip a crook of his crime profits, but won't confirm if it is bikie or drug related.
In a case earlier this year Tasmanian police liaised with their UK counterparts and the Crime Commission to shut down a $10 million ice ring that was importing drugs through the post from Britain.
"I'm really pleased that we are actually, on one hand, increasing our seizures because that means it doesn't get out onto the street and cause the harm it does," Mr Hine said.
"Ice is such an insidious drug."
In a press conference yesterday, Assistant Commissioner Donna Adams backed up the message, saying police would keep objecting to liquor licences being handed out to bikie clubs.
"We believe these are opportunities for these gang members to make relationships with young people in the community which can often lead to very bad outcomes," she said.
In particular she singled out The Rebels, who have a clubhouse in Hobart but were effectively stamped out in Launceston after a Northern CIB drug operation saw the leadership jailed.
But other bikie venues and clubs operate openly in Launceston including the Satan's Riders with the Handle Bar in Frederick Street and the Outlaws clubhouse at Invermay. The Devil's Henchmen have a club at Mowbray.
Ms Adams tried to shoot down claims made on the ABC's Four Corners that much of the ice was drifting into Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania.
She said the drug was being imported largely through the mail and domestic flights although police would continue visiting the Spirit's port with sniffer dogs during docking times.
Police Minister Rene Hidding, who labelled the ferry service a drug super highway while in opposition, has been less vocal in government, citing it an ‘‘operational’’ matter.
The Four Corners piece also highlighted a lack of available treatment in the economically depressed North-West where, anecdotally, ice use has spiked.
The Greens called for the funding of ice rehabilitation beds, saying more money was needed on the table.
The government said it was taking action by ordering a review into drug use on the coast.
A community forum will be held at Circular Head later this month to address concerns about the drug’s prevalence.