Queensland bikie Nick The Knife Forbes arrested at Darwin Airport overnight

A notorious Queensland bikie and national president of the Mongols has been dramatically arrested at Darwin Airport overnight. WATCH THE VIDEO

Notorious Queensland bikie Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes has been dramatically arrested in Darwin overnight.

Forbes, the Gold Coast-based national president of the Mongols, was nabbed by Northern Territory Gangs Taskforce detectives and Australian Federal Police agents after stepping off a Jetstar flight at Darwin Airport about 12.30am Tuesday, accompanied by his lawyer.

He was arrested over outstanding warrants, including one for an alleged violent assault of a Hells Angels bikie rival at a Darwin nightspot about eight years ago.

He was also wanted in the Top End on a failure to appear in court charge he was hit with while in custody in South Australia over a wild Adelaide nightclub brawl with Hells Angels in 2011.

Forbes is understood to have flown to the NT voluntarily ahead of the Mongols national run in the Top End, where the gang has established a stronghold, this weekend.

Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes is arrested at Darwin airport. Picture: Glenn Campbell

NT police were waiting to pounce on the feared bikie heavyweight, who flew from Brisbane with his lawyer Michael Gatenby.

“It’s not like we knew they (police) weren’t coming,” a handcuffed Forbes said as he was led away peacefully by cops to a waiting paddy wagon.

Mr Gatenby told The Courier-Mail that Forbes had been prepared to surrender to police but they arrested him at the airport instead.

He said Forbes, who was taken to the Palmerston watch-house, would apply for bail when he appeared in Darwin Local Court later today.

Police are expected to oppose bail.

Forbes only finished parole earlier this year after serving jail time in both South Australia and Queensland.

Northern Territory Police said the arrest of Forbes was part of Operation Lune, launched ahead of the Mongols national run from Alice Springs to Darwin, with the Mongals expected to arrive in Darwin on Friday afternoon.

Forbes was taken into custody over outstanding warrants. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A national run is when members of bikie chapters from across the country hit the road to meet up with mates.

Commander Matthew Hollamby said the gang would be ‘closely monitored’ and warned the public they could expect to see “large numbers of motorcycles riding in groups”.

“While motorists in the Northern Territory are used to driving with long road trains, clusters of motorcycles can be a bit different,” he said.

“Part of the operation will include a police presence at controlled intersections in Katherine to ensure the safe passage through the town.”

Mr Hollamby said Forbes had been arrested for an outstanding warrant, issued by Darwin Local Court in 2015, relating to an alleged aggravated assault at a city nightclub the previous year.

“The Northern Territory Police in partnership with the Australian Federal Police and other partners as part of the National Anti-Gangs Squad continue to work in collaboration to disrupt and prevent criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs,” he said.

Nick "The Knife" Forbes in 2019. Picture: Supplied

After being released from jail in SA in 2019, Forbes was extradited back to Queensland to face charges over an alleged cold call investment scam.

The charges are still pending.

After being released from jail and finishing parole, Forbes quickly reasserted authority within the Mongols, booting out a succession of high-profile Melbourne-based gang members including the Instagram-famous Toby Mitchell.

Kickboxer Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim was also kicked out of the gang, only to be shot eight times while attending his cousin’s funeral in Melbourne in June.

He survived the assassination attempt, which was not linked to the Mongols but to Middle Eastern crime gangs.

Nick “The Knife” Forbes at the Brisbane Domestic airport before boarding a flight to Darwin with his lawyer Michael Gatenby on Monday. Picture David Clark

A former Finks bikie gang “Terror Team” enforcer, Forbes was at the centre of the infamous 2006 “Ballroom Blitz” when Finks and Hells Angels bikies fought a pitched battle with guns, knives, chairs and fists during a kickboxing tournament at the Gold Coast’s Royal Pines Resort.

Forbes was jailed for 27 months for his role in the melee which was sparked when he punched another notorious bikie, Christopher Hudson, who had defected from the Finks to the Hells Angels.

Forbes was part of a mass “patch-over” of Finks gang members to the Mongols after the. Newman Government brought in its tough gang laws in the wake of the 2013 Broadbeach bikie brawl.