Mongols bikie Mark Balsillie facing court on cocaine charges

A senior Mongols bikie is set to face court on drug trafficking charges after a series of raids on the outlaw motorcycle club.

A senior Mongols bikie will face court next month on ­cocaine trafficking charges.

Mark Balsillie, regarded as an influential figure in the outlaw motorcycle gang, is charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of ­cocaine, possessing cocaine, and knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime.

The charges stem from a ­series of raids on Mongols and their associates by the Victoria Police Echo taskforce in ­August last year.

Mr Balsillie’s prestige sports car was impounded during that citywide operation.

Police towed the grey 2015 Lamborghini Huracan coupe from an inner-Melbourne apartment tower. A Mercedes-Benz and a Land Rover were also confiscated and 10 people arrested across Melbourne in the operation, during which police searched 14 homes and businesses.

Jake King, Mark Balsillie And Toby Mitchell. Picture: Instagram

Mr Balsillie is close to Mongols boss Toby Mitchell, who has had troubles of his own after being charged over two violent incidents in recent months.

He is a former member of the Comanchero OMCG and, some years ago, survived a shooting attack.

Mr Balsillie is regarded as a key element in the Mongols’ rise in influence.

The Mongols have made headlines in the past two years, emerging as a significant force in Victoria’s bikie scene.

Two of their members were charged last year over the ­November 2019 murder on EastLink freeway of fruiterer Paul Virgona.

Tit-for-tat shootings and firebombings over the past 18 months have been blamed on tension between them and the rival Finks gang.

Former Mongols enforcer Shane Bowden was shot dead outside his Gold Coast home in October last year.