Mark Balsillie among the Finks group riding to Melbourne
More than 100 Finks have ridden into the city en masse in the latest bikie gang run that included a stop at a Jan Juc pub.
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More than 100 Finks have ridden into Melbourne en masse in the latest bikie gang run to converge on the city.
Melbourne bikie powerbroker Mark Balsillie was among the riders at the annual gathering of the expansionist outlaw motorcycle club.
Balsillie was last year reportedly appointed as the Finks’ national president.
He is a former senior Mongol who served as national sergeant-at-arms, an internal enforcement role within clubs.
The bikies descended on a pub in Jan Juc, on Victoria’s Surf Coast, on Saturday to refuel before continuing on their way to Melbourne.
Beach Hotel employee Isaac said members had made a booking for 120 people, arriving about 1.30pm.
“They had the restaurant to themselves,” he said.
“They were all really respectful and gracious, and obviously want to be in the community’s good graces.
“We expected a police presence.”
The Finks are regarded as one of Australia’s big six OMCGs and their members have been implicated in drug trafficking, violent crimes and involvement in Victoria’s fiery illicit tobacco wars.
The club has a foothold in country areas and has held a succession of major runs here in recent years.
Balsillie was thought of highly enough to travel to Russia to patch over Comanchero members in that country to the Mongols.
He split with the Mongols three years ago in a bitter bust-up, which also saw heavy-hitters Toby Mitchell, Sam Abdulrahim and Jason Addison also departed.
Balsillie had for years previously been a Comanchero member.
In 2017, he was shot multiple times in an ambush for which fugitive Comanchero and murder suspect Hasan Topal has come under police scrutiny.
In 2022, he pleaded guilty to possessing and trafficking cocaine after an operation by officers from the Echo and Trident taskforces resulted in 127 grams of cocaine being found in a cereal box at his city apartment.
A Lamborghini Huracan was seized from Balsillie.
Melbourne has become a national bikie gang hotspot in recent years with other big-six clubs, including the Bandidos, Comancheros and Mongols meeting in the city in big numbers.
There are law enforcement hopes that new laws cracking down on the wearing of colours will curb the state’s attraction to the riders.
Police and bikie sources have said in the past that Victoria is a better state than others for the gatherings because it has the least restrictive laws.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were aware members of the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang would be taking part in their national run from Friday to Sunday.
“The run is expected to travel through metropolitan and coastal areas of Victoria including Cranbourne, Parkville and Jan Juc,” she said.
“Local police will be supported by the Echo and VIPER Taskforces, as well as specialist units to closely monitor the run to ensure the safety of all road users.
“There will be an increased police presence in the relevant areas.
“Police will be ready to take swift action in the event any outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members involved commit criminal, road safety or public order offences.”
The spokeswoman said Victoria Police would continue to work with other law enforcement agencies as part of a national approach to OMCG enforcement.
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