Crackdown on bikie wannabes committing crimes for hire
Bikie minions recruited to commit crimes for senior gang members to insulate them from the law are on notice, with police firing a warning to those who might be attracted to the outlaw bikie lifestyle.
Police & Courts
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Police have launched a nationwide blitz on bikie wannabes who are recruited by outlaw motorcycle gangs to do their dirty work for them.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the Australian Federal Police (AFP)’s National Anti-Gangs Squad (NAGS) is ramping up its attack on OMCGs, with an increased focus on the young men senior bikies employ to carry out crimes to insulate themselves from the risk of getting caught by law enforcement.
Police have fired a warning to people attracted to the bikie lifestyle, which is flaunted on social media by high profile figures such as new Mongols Melbourne president Toby Mitchell.
Detective Acting Superintendent Jason McArthur, of the NAGS, said: “It is common for underlings to be directed to undertake criminal activity in hope of possibly being rewarded by OMCGs.
“This could include rewards for certain crimes, such as confirmed membership or specific patches for specific illicit activities and actions.
“These people are often on the bottom rung of the ladder and are left deserted to fend for themselves when they are inevitably tracked down by law enforcement and face prosecution.
”Their friends and families can also become the targets of other criminal associates of OMCGs, including those they once would have considered part of the OMCG ‘brotherhood’.”
The AFP NAGS has stepped up work with state police to combat bikies and their underlings in recent months.
In July the NAGS Victoria team arrested senior Mongols member Mark Balsillie.
Raids carried out following his arrest allegedly lead to a large amount of cocaine, methamphetamine and steroids being uncovered along with two guns and the seizure of luxury motor vehicles.
Balsillie’s 2015 grey Lamborghini Huracan coupe — which retails for close to $500,000 — was towed away under police order amid a citywide organised crime sweep by officers.
A Mercedes-Benz and a Land Rover were also confiscated as 14 homes and businesses were raided as part of the operation.
Balsillie, who is believed to be an influential figure within the Mongols, is one of the biggest names to leave the Comanchero in recent years.
Acting Supt McArthur said the COVID-19 pandemic had forced OMCGs to alter their
methods due to domestic and international border restrictions.
“We’ve observed the efforts of OMCG members attempting to adapt to the pandemic and avoid the attention of law enforcement,” he said.
“Together with our state and territory law enforcement partners we’ve remained one step ahead and increased our vigilance while also making arrests from the bottom to the top of the packs.”
Major operations against OMCGs have taken place across the country in recent months.
In May South Australia Police and NAGS officers raided a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, seized 4kg of methamphetamine and arrested two people.
And in February the NAGS in South Australia arrested an associate of a bikie gang for
importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug and seized over two
kilograms of methamphetamine and over $125,000 in cash.
In June NAGS police in Queensland charged a Mongols member with importing a commercial quantity of an illegal drug while in April officers in Western Australia arrested an alleged associate of the Rebels bikie club and seized $158,000, which was suspected of being the proceeds of crime.