Police arrest Rebels bikies planning to visit Malta on ‘worldwide run’

A high ranking Rebels bikie has been arrested in Sydney after police thwarted his alleged plans to visit his father, exiled bikie boss Alex Vella, in Malta.

Two high-ranking Rebels bikies whose efforts to fly to Malta for a “worldwide run” were foiled by police allegedly stood over a man who owed them debt and forced him to hide guns belonging to them.

Rebels national president Damien Vella, 42, and his cousin Alex Vella Jr, 38, were two of four men arrested across Sydney on Tuesday as part of ongoing investigations by police into alleged offences by senior members of the bikie gang.

Police charged the cousins with several firearms offences, but also stalk or intend fear physical harm over their alleged campaign of intimidation against a man who owed them money.

It is understood it will be alleged that after initially agreeing to a payment plan with the man, the Vellas decided to increase the repayments - leading to the man falling behind on what he owed.

Alex Vella with his son Alex Vella Jnr.

Alex Vella, aged 63, photographed in the Mosta district of Malta. Picture: David Dyson

Police allege the man was subsequently forced to store illegal firearms belonging to the Vellas, before his BMW was stolen - although neither is alleged to have taken the car.

“We will be alleging in court the BMW was stolen from a person over an alleged debt,” Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Goddard said.

“That same person was (allegedly) forced to store these firearms on behalf of the two accused.

“We’ll allege that they (the Vellas) are very senior, high-ranking members of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.”

The arrests by NSW Police Raptor Squad were timely as intelligence suggested both men had plans to fly to Malta to celebrate former Rebels president Alex Vella’s 50th anniversary with the club.

Alex Vella - the father of Alex Vella Jr - has been exiled in Malta after having his Australian residency cancelled by the federal government in 2014 on character grounds.

Det Act Supt Goddard said that despite claiming their trip was for a “worldwide run” in honour of Vella Snr, police believe a key priority was to plan further club activities.

Damien Vella, Alex Vella’s nephew.

Damien Vella was also arrested.

“We believe that in Malta, there’s what they call a run - so it’s a worldwide run where members of the international Rebels OMCG will attend and obviously talk, and plan, and take part in illegal activities over there,” he said.

“I think it was important that we acted and stopped our two people from going over there.”

HIGH-RANKING REBELS BIKIE’S PLANS FOR ‘WORLDWIDE RUN’ FOILED

Plans by two high-ranking Rebels bikies to visit Malta on a “worldwide run” have been foiled by police.

Damien Vella, 42, and Alex Vella Jnr, 38, were two of four men arrested across Sydney on Tuesday as part of ongoing investigations into alleged firearm offences by senior members of the Rebels gang.

The cousins were each charged with several offences including possess more than three unregistered firearms and stalk or intimidate intend fear physical harm.

Two high-ranking Rebels bikies were arrested on Tuesday. Picture: Police Media

Police had intelligence the pair was travelling to Malta to join Alex’s father, exiled bikie Alex Vella Snr, as he celebrates 50 years with the gang.

Vella Snr has been living in Malta since 2014 when his visa was cancelled by the federal government on character grounds.

“Our interstate law enforcement counterparts were instrumental in helping us disrupt these men … from travelling to Malta for a so-called ‘worldwide run’,” Det Acting Supt Chris Goddard said.

“We will be alleging those men, through intimidation, forced a third-party to store firearms and ammunition against their will and stole, then attempted to sell, that person’s vehicle as so-called ‘punishment’.

“Anyone who thinks they can engage in this type of behaviour and then head overseas needs to reconsider.”

The men will face court on Wednesday.

It’s understood the duo was to travel to Malta for a “worldwide run”. Picture: Police Media

The two men abandoned their Supreme Court fight in Adelaide to have a bail variation allowing them to travel to Malta overturned - after there were charged with firearms offences by the Raptor Squad.

Lawyers acting for the pair told SA Chief Justice Chris Kourakis on Tuesday they now consented to the police initiated bail review.

SA police initiated the SA Supreme Court bail review last Friday after unsuccessfully opposing the bail variation granted in Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 16. The bail variation allowed the pair to travel to Malta between March 17 and April 7.

The SA Supreme Court on Tuesday heard police had intelligence the pair were travelling to Malta to join celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of exiled Rebels bikie Alex Vella snr’s involvement with the gang.

Picture: Police Media

Picture: Police Media

The SA Supreme Court heard evidence 18 Rebels members left Australia last week bound for Dubai and several of them had already been pictured on social media celebrating in Malta with the notorious bikie.

When they appeared in court on March 11 prosecutors did not oppose bail and they were released on the condition they returned to NSW, did not leave NSW and did not go near any international departure point.

They were also prohibited from having any contact with members of any declared criminal organisation in SA – particularly other Rebels members.

A $1000 surety was also imposed.

However, on March 16 lawyers acting for the pair appeared before Magistrate Michelle Sutcliffe and successfully sought the Malta travel variation to their bail conditions – which police opposed.

The variation granted allowed the pair to travel to Malta between March 17 and April 7. In allowing the variation, Magistrate Sutcliffe increased the cash surety to $10,000.

Immediately after Wednesday’s development Chief Justice Chris Kourakis set aside the bail variation made in Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 16.

He ordered the original bail conditions set on March 11 remain in force.