Bikie boss Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes faces Southport Magistrates Court accused of trafficking ice with senior OMCG members

Bikie boss Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes has been granted bail for allegedly trafficking the drug ice after a magistrate noted he was more likely to have contact with other Mongols if remanded in custody.

Mongols national president Nick 'The Knife' Forbes. Picture: Floss Adams.

Bikie boss Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes has been granted bail for allegedly trafficking the drug ice after a magistrate noted he was more likely to have contact with other Mongols if remanded in custody.

The Mongols national president allegedly arranged other senior members of the bikie gang to distribute drugs across multiple states including Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales, the Southport Magistrates Court was told on Friday.

The 53-year-old is charged with trafficking dangerous drugs between March 30 and June 8 last year

Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes outside of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory earlier this month. Picture: Floss Adams.

Forbes, who was arrested in Tugun on Thursday, was allegedly caught via messages which were intercepted.

Court documents obtained by the Bulletin show the day before police closed the operation, Forbes was allegedly spotted with another man in a ute registered to the Mongols, throwing something into the water.

The documents state that device was recovered by police divers.

In the court documents, it is also alleged Forbes was part of an attempt to import “rack cocaine” into Australia.

Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Gosling

“Whilst there was no evidence to confirm if this drug shipment has landed in Australian borders, numerous communications were identified between March 30, 2021 and June 8, 2021 whereby the defendant, as national president, was responsible for facilitating the payment of large amounts of cash (in the hundreds of thousands of dollars) for this importation which would be distributed to other Mongols OMCG chapters both domestically and internationally,” police allege in court documents.

Police also allege in court documents Forbes was in contact with WA man and senior Mongols member Trent Fitzgerald when Fitzgerald’s home was raided in April last year.

Mongols national president Nick ‘The Knife' Forbes walks out of the Qantas Club lounge at Darwin Airport. Picture: Floss Adams.

Forbes appeared relaxed when he first walked into court on Friday wearing a white long-sleeved shirt.

He looked around the courtroom before sitting and spreading his arms across the back of the two seats next to him.

Magistrate Jane Bentley granted him bail with strict conditions including a $50,000 surety, weekly reporting to police, he not leave the state or country, he wear a GPS tracker and he not contact any Mongols gang member.

The condition he not contact other Mongols members had been suggested by Forbes lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers.

Magistrate Bentley said: “He would have more contact with people if he doesn’t get bail and he is in custody.”

On Friday, prosecutor Gavin Reece told the court police had intercepted thousands of text messages.

“In that time it is alleged this defendant has been key in organising, directing and counselling other members of his organised gang, including his son, in dealing drugs,” he said.

Forbes’ son Haydn Forbes, is also a member of the Mongols and one of the 10 people charged in relation to the murder of Shane Bowden.

Haydn Forbes, the son of Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes. Picture: Facebook

Mr Reece told the court the messages found that the older Forbes had links to a “large amount of drugs seized in Western Australia”.

He said if released on bail there was a risk Forbes would contact other Mongols gang members.

“It is also clear that most of the persons that he has been engaging with are persons he has had contact with as his position as the national president requires him to keep in contact,” he said.

Mr Gatenby raised that the validity of the evidence could be in question.

He said there was a question about how the machines were used to get the messages and that those machines were in Romania.

“It’s an allegation that is going to take a significant time to resolve,” he said.

Mr Gatenby said Forbes was also concerned about his wife, who was heavily pregnant and rushed to hospital during the raid.

“There doesn’t seem to be a particular reason why armed and masked men were needed to raid my client’s home,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to December 20.

Outside of court Mr Gatenby said the charge would be contested.

“There will definitely be a challenge to the ANOM platform,” he said.

Mr Gatenby said Forbes’ major concern was for his “heavily pregnant wife”.

“He wants to get home to his wife and child,” he said.

“He is very concerned, her being rushed to hospital while pregnant is very concerning.”

Mr Gatenby said Forbes had always complied with bail undertakings and had no doubt he would continue to do that.