Notorious WA bikie figure Troy Mercanti ‘member of Mongols’ motorcycle club
Police have alleged that one of WA’s most controversial bikie figures, Troy Mercanti, has been associating with the Mongols gang, which is forbidden under his supervision order.
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Police are alleging Troy Mercanti, one of WA’s most notorious bikie figures, is a member of the Mongols, as further details of a major operation to crack down on the gang begin to emerge.
As first reported by The West Australian, Mercanti was one of several people arrested on Wednesday morning as part of the broader police crackdown operation targeting the Mongols club.
The 52-year-old will face court next month on allegations he breached a supervision order imposed on him after his release from prison last year.
Mercanti will appear in court on March 3 to face allegations he’s been associating with bikies, which is forbidden under his supervision order.
But in a press release issued on Thursday police confirmed as part of its operation, a 52-year-old man was taken into custody at a home in Karrinyup on Wednesday and was later charged with breach of a Post Sentence Supervision Order (PSSO).
The press release stated the man is a member of the Mongols.
Mercanti’s defence lawyer Paul Holmes declined to comment on Thursday. But Mr Holmes has previously told The West Australian the allegations against his client will be defended.
Mercanti, sporting long dark hair, left the Perth police station in Northbridge just after lunchtime on Wednesday after being driven there by police following his arrest.
Holding several pieces of paper, he left in the company of a young woman and walked off down Fitzgerald Street. His only comment to the media as he left was: “Haven’t missed youse (sic) dogs have I?”
While Mercanti was in prison, the Finks were patched over by the Mongols, a gang with a notorious reputation in North America.
Police will allege Mercanti has been associating with members of at least two clubs since his release from jail, including the Mongols.
When Mercanti was released from jail just over a year ago — having served almost seven years for violence inflicted on his former wife — the Prisoner’s Review Board put him on a post sentence supervision order.
Among the conditions attached to the order are that he not drink alcohol or associate with anyone with outlaw motorcycle links.
The order — which remains in place for two years from his release date — also means he must notify authorities of his residential address and cannot move without approval, must find a job, get counselling and cannot be in possession of a weapon.
The maximum penalty for breaching a PSSO is three years in jail or a $18,000 fine.
A senior member of the Mongols bikie gang is expected to apply for bail on Friday after he allegedly flushed suspected drugs down a toilet as police stormed his home on Wednesday.
Police will allege Clovis Jeremiah Murhabazi Chikonga was in the process of attempting to flush a substance, believed to be cocaine, down the toilet as police raided his Butler home.
Mr Chikonga, 33, faced Joondalup Magistrates Court on Thursday on a range of charges including intent to sell or supply cocaine, possess $26,765 believed to be unlawfully obtained and wilfully destroy evidence.
During his appearance Mr Chikonga’s lawyer Nick Scerri asked for an adjournment so he could collate documents to support an application for bail.
Police will oppose bail, the court was told.
Mr Chikonga will reappear in the same court on Friday.
Police have recovered water from the Butler house plumbing system in the wake of the alleged incident.
The water will be analysed in the hope the substance allegedly flushed down the toilet can be extracted.
Mr Chikonga was one of several people arrested early Wednesday morning as part of a broader police crackdown operation targeting the Mongols.
Seven people in total — members and those considered club associates — were charged.
It will be alleged drugs, cash and weapons — including an electronic stun gun device and a military-style bayonet — were also found in Wednesday’s raids.
A replica firearm, steroids, prescription medication and cannabis was also allegedly found.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said yesterday WA Police would continue to do “as much as they can” to disrupt the Mongols, whom he described as a global gang.
“Any group that tout themselves and operate as an organised crime entity … they will get our full undivided attention,” he told Perth radio station 6PR.
“This is a clear strategy on our part.”
“The Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang are a global gang, they have been notorious not just in Australia but in other jurisdictions, certainly North America.
“They have a very small membership here … those numbers, while they may be small, are still of some influence.”