Police on red alert over Mongols bikies’ power grab
The Mongols are on the hunt for new members to join the infamous bikie group, targeting Melbourne and Russian-based Comancheros, which would spark a new conflict between the rival gangs.
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The Mongols have launched an aggressive push to convince Comancheros in Melbourne and Russia to defect to their bikie gang in a move with potential to spark a new conflict.
The dual-continent poaching blitz has escalated amid internal Comanchero tensions with current president Mick Murray and predecessor Amad “Jay’’ Malkoun at loggerheads.
The move to recruit Russian bikies represents a major play as the eastern European network has been a key part of Comanchero drug and gun smuggling and money laundering.
The Herald Sun has learned a senior Malkoun ally, who recently switched from the Comanchero to the Mongols, this month travelled to Russia to help steal members of the rival gang’s Moscow chapter.
The boss of the Mongols’ Russian arm took to social media this week to boast about the takeover. “Much respect for my brother from Melbourne and all brothers from Australia,” the Russian boss posted.
The “patching over” ceremony is likely to escalate animosity between the gangs. There is speculation Malkoun may align with the Mongols.
Malkoun established the Russian Comanchero connection in about 2015 and it became a key link in the gang’s organised crime chain.
There has been long-documented tension between Malkoun and his successor Murray.
Malkoun almost died in an unsolved car-bombing attack in Greece in March.
After the ambush, he left his Athens hospital abruptly, and is believed to be recovering in the Middle East. But he is still held in high regard by some members of the Comanchero.
Australian law enforcement bodies have become increasingly concerned over the influence of bikies’ Russian connections in crime.
A number of Russian figures living opulent lifestyles in Melbourne are suspected of laundering huge amounts of money. One woman identified several years ago as living here as a student was found to have a property portfolio worth more than $10 million.
She is believed to have had links to Malkoun.
The Victorian Mongols have been on a recruitment drive over recent months. The most high-profile acquisition has been former Bandidos strongman Toby Mitchell.
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The Malkoun ally who went to Russia is also a friend of Mitchell. Another Mitchell mate was 32-year-old Mongol Rocco Curra.
In August, Curra was wounded in a hail of bullets as he sat in his car at Bulleen, in what was almost certainly an intended hit. Anti-gangs detectives are continuing to investigate the ambush.
Victoria Police declined to comment on specific questions about the Mongols’ activities.
It said it actively monitored OMCGs, including by sending Echo taskforce detectives interstate and overseas for investigations and intelligence-gathering.