The colourful criminal backgrounds of the bikie clubs facing colours bans in Victoria

Police want new laws to stop bikie gangs displaying their club colours in public. The 13 clubs set to be affected boast links to multiple murders, international drug trafficking, standover work and other high-level crime.

Thirteen bikie gangs who police want banned from wearing their club insignia have been named.

They are a mix of feared international outfits and smaller affiliates whose members are working their way towards a place in one of the big-six gangs.

Police say the insignia, commonly referred to as colours, are a way to intimidate outsiders and attract new members.

These are the 13 clubs facing bans.

COMANCHERO

Powerful gang linked to transnational drug trafficking and violent crime. Its members have, since 2017, been linked to murders, including those of Mitat Rasimi, Zabi Ezedyar and Daniel O’Shea. Hit hard by arrests in recent years but remain a force.

Comanchero bikies remain a force. Picture: NewsWire

HELLS ANGELS

Victoria’s oldest bikie gang. Implicated in drug trafficking, standover work and assaults. Members investigated over numerous murders, the most recent that of Kerry Giakoumis who was last seen alive at the infamous Nomads’ chapter clubhouse at Thomastown in 2021.

MONGOLS

Have a reputation for extreme violence. Two members, Josh Rider and Aaron Ong, are in jail for the 2019 mistaken identity murder of fruiterer Paul Virgona. Patched over many members of the Bandidos some years ago. Main headquarters is in Port Melbourne but they have chapters in the state’s north.

The Mongols have their headquarters in Port Melbourne.

REBELS

Club with high membership and strong numbers outside the metro area. Their Montrose clubhouse was set alight in April. In 2019, they took over the Bendigo clubhouse of the Satan’s Soldiers. Former enforcer Matthew Bruce doing a long stretch over a drive-by shooting and drug trafficking.

The Rebels have strong numbers outside the metro area.

FINKS

Expansionist outfit whose Melbourne members have in the past been charged with shootings, drug trafficking and tobacco war arsons. Melbourne-based Mark Balsillie is national president. Have a strong chapter in Wodonga on the Victoria-New South Wales border.

BANDIDOS

Have chapters throughout Victoria. One of Australia’s oldest gangs, members shot it out with Comancheros in the horrific 1984 Milperra massacre in Sydney. Traditional rivals of the Rebels. Have remained a factor in the OMCG sphere despite some members patching over to the Mongols.

The Bandidos are one of Australia’s oldest gangs. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

GYPSY JOKERS

The GJs have long had a presence in the Albury-Wodonga area where they have previously found themselves in the sights of the Victoria Police VIPER taskforce. Strong in South Australia and West Australia, where they have for years attracted the curiosity of organised crime detectives.

The Gypsy Jokers found themselves in the sights of the Victoria Police VIPER taskforce.

OUTLAWS

Old-school international club which has been in Victoria for decades. Has chapters in almost every Australian state, most of them in outer suburban and country areas.

RED DEVILS

Linked to Hells Angels. Former member Daniel Pegoraro survived being shot in 2013 amid ongoing beef with Bandidos. Their Clayton South clubhouse was shot up in 2015.

The Red Devils are linked to Hells Angels.

RAIDERS

Affiliate to the Mongols. Strong along the Murray River. Members were nailed for drug crimes in the Echo Taskforce’s operation Serpere, which centred on Cobram-based Mongols enforcer Joshua Eddy.

DIABLOS

Feeder club for the Bandidos. Their Melton clubhouse was in 2013 the scene of the second shooting of former Bandido strongman Toby Mitchell.

SOLDADO

Another Bandido affiliate.

SIXTY-SIXERS

Finks support club.

Originally published as The colourful criminal backgrounds of the bikie clubs facing colours bans in Victoria