Bikie news: Exiled Rebels boss Alex Vella selling merch in Malta

Exiled Rebels boss Alex Vella, who was once worth millions and in control of more than 2000 bikies, has been spotted selling merchandise overseas – and there’s a reason behind it.

He was once the most powerful bikie in Australia but now Alex Vella, the exiled boss of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, is selling T-shirts and stubby holders to raise money for his legal fund.

At the height of his power, the Sydney based Vella was in control of more than 2000 bikies across Australia and had a massive clubhouse at Bringelly, in southwest Sydney, where he would host wild “Church’’ meetings on a Friday night. He was estimated to be worth millions in property, exotic cars and had a steady income from gang members paying “dues’’ to the boss for the privilege of being a Rebel.

Alex Vella pictured wearing his Rebels vest in Malta.

It’s the first time Vella has been seen wearing his full Rebels colours for the first time since leaving Australia.

But things started going south for Vella and his gang when the club house was raided and eventually confiscated by the NSW anti-bikie Squad, Strikeforce Raptor.

Then in 2014 a secret plan hatched by NSW Police and then federal immigration minister Scott Morrison, brought the former boxer and his club to its knees.

While he was holidaying in Malta in June 2014 the federal government cancelled his visa, preventing him from coming back into the country because he had never obtained citizenship after coming here from Malta as a child.

Despite the exile, Vella still identifies himself as a Rebel bikie and wears the colours as he rides around Malta.

Vella with his son Alex Vella Jnr.

Vella outside Auburn Gallipoli mosque in Campbelltown before he was deported.

He’s still fighting to return to his adopted home.

Vella in Malta in 2017.

And despite howls of protests and years of legal appeals all the way to the High Court Vella remains locked out of his adopted homeland.

“Since his departure the dominance of the Rebels has significantly weakened,” Raptor boss Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said.

“They don’t have a significant clubhouse like in the old days but they are still a target of NSW police and other forces around the country, including the Australian Federal Police.”

When Vella was Rebels boss the number of members was estimated to be more than 700 but by 2017 had dwindled to 600. It is now believed to be around 450.

The club itself is nowhere near as ­organised as it was when run by Vella, who has handed the reins over to his nephew Damien Vella.

On his website, Show Your Support, Vella is asking for donations and asking supporters to purchase an Alex Vella T-shirt for $34.99 or a stubby cooler, car sticker and key ring pack or $25.