Outlaws bikie visit ends with NT outback pubs shut after police raid
The owner of two of the Northern Territory’s best-known outback pubs has shut both venues after police searched the Stuarts Well Roadhouse over alleged liquor licence breaches, days after a visit from the Outlaws motorcycle gang.
Laura Ragless, who runs the Larrimah Pink Panther Hotel and the Stuarts Well Roadhouse on the Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs, announced on social media that each venue was “officially closed”.
“Don’t bother coming the government harassment and all has taken its toll sorry,” she wrote.
NT Police said investigators searched the roadhouse “and an adjoining property” on Wednesday after a tip-off about the venue’s liquor licence. Officers allegedly found an unsecured firearm and ammunition, 214 packs of illegal cigarettes, six unlawfully imported OC spray canisters and $3,800 in cash.
Three men, aged 33, 59 and 71, have been charged with firearms, drug and prohibited weapons offences. All are due before the Alice Springs Local Court in January next year. The alleged liquor licence breaches have been referred to Licensing NT.
Owner disputes the charges
Ragless denied any wrongdoing. She described the charges as “trumped up” and said the tobacco products were “personal cigarettes not sold in or around the roadhouse”.
On the Tuesday before the raid, she had posted photos of Outlaws members at the roadhouse. “A little rain and wind can’t stop these legends from hitting the road,” she wrote. She later suggested the group had been on a “charity run”.
Under NT law, licensees and staff must direct outlaw motorcycle gang members to leave if they refuse to remove “any clothing or items that identify their club”.
Animal welfare officers also carried out an unannounced inspection of the Larrimah Hotel on Thursday after receiving reports about animals. “No animal welfare concerns were identified pursuant to the Animal Protection Act 2018 at the time of the inspection,” a spokesperson said.
Ragless also defended her care of the pub’s resident saltwater crocodile, Sneaky Sam. “No one shut me down it was my choice and how about you google crocs they can only snap not chew so Sam leaves his food for later,” she wrote in response to a customer.
Pub’s profile
The Larrimah pub, between Katherine and Daly Waters, drew global attention after the 2017 disappearance of local man Paddy Moriarty, a case that has inspired a podcast, a book and an HBO documentary. Ragless sells merchandise at the pub referencing the mystery.
Locals confirmed the Larrimah pub was still closed on Friday morning, but by lunchtime its Facebook page had resumed promoting its daily black Angus steak night.
Jonathan Jackson, 20th October 2026
