Finks Motorcycle Gang to complete national run through Victoria

The Finks will have plenty of police company as they set out for their national run over the Australia Day long weekend.

Members of Finks motorcycle club will embark on their national ride during the Australia Day long weekend. Picture: David Crosling

A beefed up Victoria Police presence will closely monitor the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang’s national run across the state this weekend.

Hundreds of bikies will take to country and metropolitan roads and highways in a show of strength, proudly wearing club colours as they tour the state until Sunday.

It’s understood hundreds of Finks members will make their way from all parts of the state and country, heading to various suburbs across the city and Mornington Peninsula.

A strong contingent are also expected to head south along the Hume Highway from Sydney and Wodonga.

Members of Finks motorcycle club prepare to ride. Picture: David Crosling

Members of Finks motorcycle club at their Cranbourne West clubhouse ahead of their 2021 ride. Picture: David Crosling

The Finks’ clubhouse in Cranbourne West is also tipped to be a popular meeting point for members over the three days.

Victoria Police said the force would be ready to pounce on any unlawful or criminal behaviour over the weekend.

“Echo and VIPER Taskforces along with local police and specialist units will be closely monitoring the run to ensure the safety of all road users,” a spokeswoman said.

“There will be an increased police presence in the relevant areas over the weekend.

“Police will be ready to take swift action in the event any OMCG members involved commit criminal, road safety or public order offences.

“Victoria Police will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies as part of a national approach to OMCG enforcement.”

But the crew of bikies won’t be converging on their East Gippsland clubhouse, which closed its doors late in 2022 after a heavy police crackdown.

Shortly after establishing another headquarters in Lindenow — in a bid to recruit locals to the Kalimna chapter — officers shut it down.

Police had become increasingly concerned about the use of fear and intimidation associated with having the bikie gang in the area, seizing drugs, weapons and a stolen motorcycle from the former clubrooms.

Several Finks members have found themselves on the wrong side of the law in recent weeks, with at least four patched members charged over a string of tobacco shop fires since Christmas Day.

An Altona smoke shop was firebombed twice in two days Picture: David Crosling

Smoke shops in Moe, Sunshine, Altona and Croydon were hit, while the Wolf Cafe and Eatery in Altona North was also torched.

Werribee man Mohut Shomshe, 41, who police allege is a patched Finks bikie, was arrested by the elite special operations group earlier this month and was charged with six counts of arson.

Stan Zanakas, 30, from Templestowe, and 32-year-old Nicholas Kirby, from Albion, who police allege are also patched Finks members, were charged with two and six counts of arson respectively.

Ben Valerio, 37, from Point Cook, who allegedly has connections to the gang, was also charged with five counts of arson.

Victoria Police urge anyone with information about OMCG activity to contact Crime Stoppers.