Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang members flock to Canberra for national meeting

Members of a well-known bikie gang have been seen snapping photos with the police as they descend on Canberra for their national meeting.

Members of the feared Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang have been seen snapping selfies with cops as they flood into Canberra for their annual national meeting.

Police were out in force on Saturday, surrounding Mitchell Mistresses, a strip club in an industrial area about 11 kilometres north of Parliament House, as they waited for the group to gather.

A street has been blocked off. Picture: NewsWire.

The Commancheros are set to have their national meeting in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire.

Part of Grimwade Street was closed off as officers set up traffic cones to slow the group’s movement away from the meet-up location.

However it didn’t stop the bikies from gathering, with a large group pulling up on motorbikes outside the strip club in vests emblazoned with the Comanchero logo.

A checkpoint was set up by police as part of their operation, with two men spotted taking a selfie in front of the check in.

Police funnelled the sea of tattoos and leather through the checkpoints.

Officers meticulously documented members, photographing tattoos, bikes and papers.

Many donning designer glasses and finely shaped beards, the gang appeared a far cry from its origins as a scruffy brotherhood of hardened military veterans.

The group gathered outside the Mitchell Mistresses strip club. Picture: NewsWire.

Motorbikes filled the street on Saturday morning. Picture: NewsWire.

It’s understood many local businesses weren’t aware of the gathering, and have had to shut up shop for the day as customers aren’t able to access the shops.

The ACT was likely chosen to host the national meeting as it remains the only state or territory yet to implement the tough anti-consorting laws that have stopped OMCGs from gathering or wearing club colours.

In Canberra, they will be able to wear their patches and ride in a group.

The lax legislation has created a haven for motorcycle gangs, with the Comancheros, Rebels, Finks, Hells Angels all touting an established presence in the nation’s capital.

A checkpoint was set up by police as part of their operation. Picture: NewsWire

Officers meticulously documented members, photographing tattoos, bikes and papers. Picture: NewsWire

Detective Inspector Matthew Smith, who heads the NSW Raptor Squad State Crime Command’s southern region, earlier said police were “fully aware” of the gathering.

“We are fully aware of a significant outlaw motorcycle gang gathering planned in the ACT this weekend,” Inspector Smith said.

“These criminal gangs go to great lengths to avoid police detection but equally, we have been interacting with them for some time, so we have a level of knowledge about how they operate.

“SCC Raptor Squad is designed to disrupt and dismantle outlaw motorcycle gangs in NSW.

“Raptor Squad takes great pride in the work they do in identifying any illegal activity or anti-social behaviour arising from these outlaw motorcycle gangs.”

The Comancheros are led by National President Bemir Saravec, a house painter from Melbourne, after former bikie boss Allan Meehan was arrested over a breach of a Serious Crime Prevention Order last year.

Originally published as Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang members flock to Canberra for national meeting