Outlaws in gangs carrying equipment (8)
I believe the answer is:
brigands
'outlaws' is the definition.
(brigand is a kind of outlaw)
'gangs carrying equipment' is the wordplay.
'gangs' becomes 'bands' (I've seen this in another clue).
'carrying' is an insertion indicator.
'equipment' becomes 'rig' (rig is a kind of equipment).
'bands' placed around 'rig' is 'BRIGANDS'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for brigands that I've seen before include "Highway robbers" , "Armed thieves" , "Pirates on land" , "Bandits" .)