Alleged WA Hells Angels boss Benjamin Bernhardt charged in Operation Kraken investigation

The alleged boss of the Hells Angels in WA has been netted in a nationwide operation targeting a secret crime app, with police claiming they found thousands of dollars in dirty cash and steroids after stopping his luxury Mercedes. Benjamin Bernhardt — who police say is the current State president of the feared outlaw motorcycle gang — was arrested last week after police stopped his 2011 Mercedes Benz G wagon in Fremantle during synchronised raids across the country. The accused bikie boss was one of 15 WA men charged in the Australian Federal Police investigation codenamed Operation Kraken — a global takedown of the encrypted communications platform named Ghost, favoured by the underworld. The alleged mastermind behind the app, Jay Je Yoon Jung, was arrested in Sydney earlier this month and became the first Australian-based person accused of creating such a network. Police allege they uncovered $10,000 cash and more than 55g of cocaine during a search of Mr Bernhardt’s vehicle. Officers then descended on his Piara Waters home later that morning where they allegedly found $4600 in cash and steroids. Mr Bernhardt is now facing charges of possessing prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply and possessing stolen or unlawfully obtained property. Also arrested last week was a 55-year-old Heathridge man who allegedly refused to provide the AFP with access to his phone, which was suspected to have been a Ghost-dedicated device. The phone was allegedly found wrapped in a T-shirt and hidden in a chest of drawers in a bedroom at the property. He was charged with failing to comply with an order. The AFP says more than $4.37 million of suspected illicit assets, four guns and almost 19kg of drugs have been seized in WA as part of investigations linked to Operation Kraken. Other charges laid in connection to the operation in the lead-up to last week’s raids include a 38-year-old Thornlie man who was allegedly found in possession of four firearms, which included an allegedly stolen sawn-off 12-guage shotgun. A semi-automatic rifle, an air-rifle and an imitation handgun was also allegedly found, along with more than 300 rounds of ammunition and almost $62,000 in cash hidden at his home. Police also allegedly found 32g of methamphetamine, including some bags hidden in a modified compartment of a car battery in the garage. The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce also restrained cryptocurrencies and properties valued at almost $2 million last month as part of an investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate based in WA. “The CACT successfully applied to the WA District Court to restrain the assets as suspected proceeds of crime because their value was grossly out of proportion to a Perth man’s declared taxable income and expenditure,” an AFP statement said. “The CACT will apply to have the restrained assets forfeited to the Commonwealth. “Ongoing investigations resulted in the AFP seizing another $792,00 of cryptocurrency last week, which the CACT will apply to have restrained and confiscated.” Police have also charged a 31-year-old Mirrabooka man after allegedly finding $79,000 in cash in the centre console of the GTS Holden he was driving in Langford. Meantime, WA Police’s drug and firearm squad charged a 30-year-old Scarborough man earlier this month after he was allegedly found with 27g of cocaine. AFP assistant commissioner Graeme Marshall said Operation Kraken showed the agency’s ability to disrupt organised crime networks who believe they can stay hidden using encrypted platforms. WA Police Assistant Commissioner State Crime Gordon Fairman said encrypted platforms like Ghost were “constantly being used” by organised crime syndicated “threatening our way of life”. “Criminals use these encrypted platforms under the mistaken belief that they can remain anonymous forever, and through the collective capabilities of Australian law enforcement no one is out of reach,” he said. Mr Bernhardt is next due to appear in Armadale Magistrates Court on October 16.