OUTLAW bikie gangs have declared Canberra a “free for all” zone, with one of the world’s most bloodthirsty outfits targeting the nation’s capital because of its lack of consorting laws.
The feared Dutch Satudarah gang is among a number of OMCGs which have been given legal advice that the ACT would be easier to operate out of rather than other states, where tough anti-bikie laws are in place.
The development is a reflection of the “free for all” declaration — which basically means gangs do not need permission from rival gangs to operate in the area, usually a necessary requirement under loose bikie protocols.
On December 3 and 4 last year the national conference of the Comancheros met and trucked in nearly 70 bikes before riding around Lake Burley Griffin in their colours..
Previously, the Rebels were the only bikie gang in Canberra, but now the Nomads and Comancheros have established clubhouses and the Finks recently held a national meeting there.
On December 3 and 4 last year the national conference of the Comancheros met and trucked in nearly 70 bikes before riding around Lake Burley Griffin in their colours.
ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay confirmed that while the ACT did not currently have specific consorting laws, it did have a dedicated task force called Nemesis to deal with gangs.
The feared Dutch Satudarah gang is among a number of OMCGs which have been given legal advice that the ACT would be easier to operate out of rather than other states. Picture: Facebook
“ACT policing, through Taskforce Nemesis, has executed 131 search warrants across Canberra, seizing weapons, cash, drugs and anabolic steroids,” he said. “As of 30 October 2016, 71 OMCG members had been brought before the court, charged with a total of 217 offences.”
However, NSW Police sources have revealed their exasperation at how the ACT situation is hampering their battle against the bikie menace. “A lot of clubhouses have been closed down and bikies are no longer roaming in packs in NSW but it’s frustrating that they can still operate freely in Canberra,” a senior NSW officer said.
“It means they can have their state and national meetings and plan their criminal activities with less fear of being arrested.”
NSW’s tough consorting laws mean the traditional bikie “runs’’ and wearing colours in public had almost vanished.
On its website Satudarah claims to have chapters in Sydney and Glen Innes but the NSW Gang Squad said the gang’s presence was nothing more than a “cyber” existence, with no clubhouse or even motorbikes.
“They tried to set up in Sydney and we shut them down. The same in northern NSW,’’ Superintendent Detective Debbie Wallace, head of the Gang Squad, said. “We have not seen physical evidence they are active apart from on Facebook.”
Detective Wallace said NSW’s tough consorting laws mean the traditional bikie “runs’’ and wearing colours in public had almost vanished.
Satudarah’s dream of establishing in Sydney was shattered in November 2015 when police raided a Bankstown garage being used as its first clubhouse.
Police allegedly seized the drug ice, gang colours and paraphernalia, along with items related to firearm possession. Four gang members were charged with a range of offences including assault, possessing and supplying prohibited drugs, carrying weapons and consorting.
gangs do not need permission from rival gangs to operate in the area, usually a necessary requirement under loose bikie protocols.
THE SATUDARAH BIKIE GANG
* Formally founded in the Netherlands in 1990
* Name originated in Indonesia and translates to “one blood”
* Has 44 chapters with 2000 members in 19 countries
* Established in Australia in 2015
From the Satudarah bikie gang’s Facebook page
BALI HIGH ON GANG’S GROWING EMPIRE
Mark Morri
IT appears the Sydney-based Nomads bikie gang are going international with one of the group’s senior members boasting on social media that they have just started a new chapter in Bali.
Mouhamed “Moudi” Tajjour made the announcement via an Instagram post.
“Proud to announce the latest Nomads chapter to the Nomads family. Nomads MC Bali.’’
Moudi and his brother, Nomads’ national president Sleiman “Simon” Tajjour; are cousins to the Sydney Ibrahim family.
Nomad bikie gang member Moudi Tajjour. Picture: Facebook
Last year Sleiman was charged by the NSW Police’s Fraud and Cybercrime Squad over an alleged fraud to obtain finance for homes and cars. Bali and other south-Asian countries have recently become quite popular with Aussie bikie members following the introduction of anti-association laws in Australia.
In the past two years the Nomads gang has been repeatedly targeted by Strike Force Raptor, an elite unit tasked with shutting down bikie activity.
Nomads national president Sleiman “Simon” Tajjour.
The Nomads were also the first group to have members charged under the consorting laws, which they contested all the way to the High Court of Australia and lost in October 2014. Just months later in January 2015, Strike Force Raptor executed a high-profile raid in which they closed down the Nomads’ new clubhouse at Wetherill Park, arresting 13 gang members with consorting.
NSW toughened its consorting laws in 2012 after a spate of shootings in public places.
