ADF investigates suspected links between military personnel and bikies

An ADF Joint Military Police Force covert investigation is looking into suspected links between serving personnel and bikie gangs including the Rebels, Nomads, Mongols and Outlaws.

Exclusive: Outlaw motorcycle gangs are actively looking to seduce Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel with sex and drugs to compromise them into joining their criminal groups, with at least 30 currently under investigation.

Australian police have long raised concerns about the threat OMCGs and transnational crime posed to society but have now flagged alarm over their threat to national security, with recruitment of military-trained personnel with access to hardware and counter tactics seen as prestige to OMCGs.

At federal and state police prompting, the ADF’s Joint Military Police Force (JMPT) is running a covert investigation dubbed Operation Decibel, finding criminal bikers were specifically targeting veteran and serving military motorcycle clubs (MMC) and luring them into social gatherings and reciprocal charity rides and events.

“These associations have led to military motorcycle clubs hosting OMCG members at MMC social functions, which OMCGs have used as opportunities to identify and cultivate prospective recruits to their OMCG,” Operation Decibel concluded.

It found “ … some MMCs were maintaining associations with various OMCGs in multiple Australian states.”

OMCGs are targeting members of the ADF. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Among those being investigated are serving ADF personnel largely from Queensland notably Townsville and Brisbane, NSW, the ACT, and Victoria – including the Wodonga region.

ADF personnel from Adelaide and at least five men alone from the Northern Territory including Robertson Barracks in Darwin are also being investigated.

Some are officer level rank and linked to the Rebels, Nomads, Mongols and Outlaws with cross membership to veteran motorbike groups.

In one case, a soldier-turned-bikie supporter of the Outlaws was charged by NT’s police gang squad for selling a trafficable quantity of drugs to pay off personal loans.

The Rebels OMCG are involved. Picture: Supplied

The Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang are also involved. Picture: Supplied

Officers attached to Strike Force Raptor in NSW were involved in a similar case of a young soldier suspected to be associating with a drug-dealing OMCG group.

In Perth, an RSL sub-branch was last month forced to shut down by the RSL WA over allegations it was being run like a bikie clubhouse; the Nollamara sub-branch was located next door to the Veterans Motorcycle Club.

The Veterans Motorcycle club members are not linked to OMCGs. Picture: AAP

With the assistance of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and Australian Federal Police (AFP), Operation Decibel’s mandate is for a “proactive operation to detect, deter and influence” ADF members from any involvement or association with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Defence, officially supports clubs and associations that provide opportunities for veterans but only within military law.

“There is no place within Defence for behaviour or affiliations inconsistent with Defence values,” Defence said in a statement, declining to comment specifically citing ongoing investigations.

ADF members are being recruited by bikies. Picture: Gary Ramage

“Personnel who have social affiliations in their personal capacity do so knowing that they are bound by Defence values and policies.”

The ACIC confirmed it was working with the ADF under its National Task Force Morpheus program to “collaboratively target the highest threat outlaw motorcycle gangs impacting Australia”.

“As a matter of policy, we do not comment publicly on matters regarding exchanges of intelligence and information with our partner agencies and whether we are (or are not) investigating a particular matter.”

The AFP confirmed military or veteran-related motorcycle clubs had not been categorised OMCGs but confirmed they worked collaboratively with the ADF which was party to Morpheus to “cause maximum disruption to the criminal activities of the highest-threat OMCGs”.

Originally published as ADF investigates suspected links between military personnel and bikies