Latest news with #bikies
ABC News
31-07-2025
- ABC News
Police prepare for Rebels bikie ride ahead of last hurrah for gang colours
Police say they are ready to take swift action against the Rebels Motorcycle Club as members begin their "last hurrah" ride into northern Victoria, weeks out from tougher laws banning club colours coming into effect. About 200 bikies from the outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) are expected to ride into Mildura in the state's far north-west on Thursday evening, before heading to Swan Hill for the start of the club run to Melbourne on Friday. Mildura police Inspector Dave Barrie said officers would be on high alert to ensure community safety. "We'll reiterate to them [Rebel Motorcycle Club members] that their intention should be to come to town, enjoy their weekend and not make a nuisance of themselves. "They work with us in the lead-up to these things." The new laws banning the public display of OMCG colours and gang insignia come into force in late August. The Victorian government has indicated it is yet to decide which clubs will come under the new regulations, but the government's own Engage Victoria list puts outlaw bikie gangs such as the Rebels, Finks, Mongols and Comanchero in the mix. The laws will ban the display of club names, logos, or marks that indicate membership, including the "1%" patch for bikies who consider themselves a part of the criminal element of a club. Bikies caught wearing banned club colours or insignia face a maximum fine of $12,210.60 and $61,053 for the club. Echo and VIPER taskforces, specialist resources from Melbourne, and local police from Victoria and New South Wales will set up a checkpoint at an undisclosed location to ensure the riders comply with road rules and behave. This weekend will be the latest interaction between police and the Rebels, as authorities try to address the club's footing in the regional city of Mildura. In April, anti-gang squads charged three people, including a patched member of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, over alleged drug trafficking, seizing 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth an estimated $1 million. A month later, VIPER taskforce detectives returned to Mildura and Swan Hill, targeting OMCGs and organised crime groups in the areas. The week-long operation resulted in 20 arrests for firearm, weapon and drug offences. Police told the ABC at the time that 42 charges were laid following the arrests and officers seized eight guns, $24,000 in cash, and drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, and cannabis. In August 2023, seven gang members were arrested and three were charged with ammunition, weapons and drug offences.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- News.com.au
Underworld sources claim Sydney dad Dylan Choup was caught up in Victorian drug syndicate's battle to find stolen stash of meth
The 'contract crew' responsible for six days of carnage across Sydney were enlisted after a methamphetamine haul went missing from a stash house in Melbourne, underworld sources claim. The Victorian drug syndicate, known for importing meth in tea packets from Myanmar, discovered the stash went missing last year, one source told A key figure in Melbourne 'immediately assumed' it was Dylan Choup that robbed him, following his men when they 'reloaded 50 keys (kilograms) of ice,' the source said. 'He also organised two bikie prospects in Melbourne to kidnap and rinse everyone of their gear and money associated with Mr Choup. 'Many associates were kidnapped from their families and then had their faces slashed. No one reported it or spoke to authorities.' Mr Choup's body was found in remote bushland in Lucas Heights, south of Sydney's CBD, on August 31 last year. A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup, a 32-year-old father who leaves behind a partner and baby son, had been fatally shot and the top of his right ear had been severed. Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi said police believed Mr Choup was an employee of a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate and had 'fallen foul' for some reason. 'We don't have the exact details - that is also part of our appeal... is to establish what the exact motive may have been,' he said. 'It may be a case of missing drugs or missing money. If I was a betting man, that's what I would say the situation was.' '(It's) an absolute high level of violence. It's unfortunate that we are seeing this high level of violence.' Mr Choup was last seen about 6.10pm on Thursday 25 July 2024 in Cabramatta, where he told friends he had a meeting and asked them to wait nearby. About 6.25pm, CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, who appeared to reprimand and slap him. Both men were then seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. 'For Mr Choup just to sit there and be slapped in public would suggest to me that that person that was speaking to him holds a much higher position in that organisation than he did, Det. Supt Doueihi said on Tuesday. 'There was no resistance there, there was no attempt to flee, there was no attempt to strike back. So, it was quite evident from that footage that Mr Choup was in fear of that person.' As inquiries continue, police have released CCTV of the grey Audi SQ2 was seen walking towards – potentially the same vehicle used in a separate kidnapping in Canley Vale a week earlier. Detectives have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. The two men captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance are also of interest to police. Strike Force Hallet was established by State Crime Command's Homicide Squad to investigate the contract crew they believe is also responsible for the kidnapping and torture of a man in Canley Vale, and the attempted murder of another man in Queensland – during which he was buried alive. The 23-year-old stumbled into a Queensland petrol station covered in dirt and blood before collapsing with a bullet lodged in his brain through his eye socket. Mr Doueihi said police believed the kidnapping of the first male 'is also linked to a drug trafficking syndicate and something that's gone wrong within that trafficking syndicate'. 'In relation to the attempted murder of the man in Queensland, that unfortunately is not that clear - it remains unclear at the moment, the exact motive, but there is a possibility that that also is linked to (it).' The United Nations this week issued a warning that Australia is being flooded with large quantities of inexpensive methamphetamine originating from Myanmar. Organised crime syndicates are capitalising on Myanmar's status as the world's primary production hub for the drug, combined with record low prices and newly established sea routes, to target the lucrative Australian drug market. A UN Office on Drugs and Crime report revealed methamphetamine seizures jumped by 24 per cent to 236 tonnes in Asia in 2024 with 85 per cent of those seizures occurring in Southeast Asia. 'While these seizures reflect, in part, successful law enforcement efforts, we are clearly seeing unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking from the Golden Triangle, in particular Shan State (in Myanmar),' UNODC acting regional representative Benedikt Hofmann said. Last year Victoria Police, working with the AFP, located and seized 622 green and gold tea packages inside sea cargo which arrived in Melbourne from Malaysia. In 2022 the Australian Federal Police seized more than two tonnes of the illicit narcotic, which had an estimated street value of more than $1 billion and said that over the past decade, criminals have used the distinctive tea package designs to indicate a product's purity and its source. Southeast Asian-manufactured methamphetamine has the highest purity compared to other production regions, including Mexico, the Middle East and Central Asia. Methamphetamine concealed in tea packets weighs about 1kg, which is consistent with regular teas and makes it more difficult to detect.
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- The Guardian
The kindness of strangers: stranded on a deserted back road, three bikies swapped my busted tyre
It was late, dark and a storm was brewing. I'd been helping a friend do some work at a property in the Colo valley, north-west of Sydney, and was heading home at about 11pm. As I was driving across the Colo River Bridge, there was a sudden, loud bang. I'd hit a pothole and my front driver's side tyre had blown, just about swallowing my hatchback with it. It was 1988 and, in those days, the area around Colo was pretty rough. It was full of bikies – proper bikies, not the drug-running kind that don't even have bikes nowadays. The back roads around there are mainly deserted and can be eerie at the best of times. Pulled over on the side of the bridge, I saw a pack of bikies approaching through the rain, which was now pouring down. Just like in a movie, they pulled up around me, engines bubbling along ominously, all leather and gang colours. I thought: 'This is it – they're gonna kill me. They'll take everything I have, beat me up and chuck me over the bridge.' In those days, you didn't look at those guys twice. But just as I was contemplating how I could persuade them to spare my life, the head guy yelled out: 'Need a hand?' I said, 'Err, yes,' telling him it would be great if they could leave their lights on – I already had the jack out with the new tyre beside me, but it was too dark to see what I was doing. With the speed of a Formula One crew, three of the bikies took over, swapped the tyre, let down the jack and then tore off over the hill. I've never thought badly about bikies since – those guys were so friendly and nice. I now try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Their appearance was perfect timing. If they hadn't shown up, I would have been stuck there until morning. I'm not sure if they were Hells Angels, but to this day, I believe they were heaven sent. From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- The Guardian
The kindness of strangers: stranded on a deserted back road, three bikies swapped my busted tyre
It was late, dark and a storm was brewing. I'd been helping a friend do some work at a property in the Colo valley, north-west of Sydney, and was heading home at about 11pm. As I was driving across the Colo River Bridge, there was a sudden, loud bang. I'd hit a pothole and my front driver's side tyre had blown, just about swallowing my hatchback with it. It was 1988 and, in those days, the area around Colo was pretty rough. It was full of bikies – proper bikies, not the drug-running kind that don't even have bikes nowadays. The back roads around there are mainly deserted and can be eerie at the best of times. Pulled over on the side of the bridge, I saw a pack of bikies approaching through the rain, which was now pouring down. Just like in a movie, they pulled up around me, engines bubbling along ominously, all leather and gang colours. I thought: 'This is it – they're gonna kill me. They'll take everything I have, beat me up and chuck me over the bridge.' In those days, you didn't look at those guys twice. But just as I was contemplating how I could persuade them to spare my life, the head guy yelled out: 'Need a hand?' I said, 'Err, yes,' telling him it would be great if they could leave their lights on – I already had the jack out with the new tyre beside me, but it was too dark to see what I was doing. With the speed of a Formula One crew, three of the bikies took over, swapped the tyre, let down the jack and then tore off over the hill. I've never thought badly about bikies since – those guys were so friendly and nice. I now try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Their appearance was perfect timing. If they hadn't shown up, I would have been stuck there until morning. I'm not sure if they were Hells Angels, but to this day, I believe they were heaven sent. From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Cops share new CCTV after senior Comanchero bikie was left dumped outside hospital with gunshot wounds
New CCTV footage of a group of Comanchero bikies allegedly planning a shocking attack on one of their own has been released by police in a bid to solve the case. Leslie Grantham, 51, a senior member of the notorious gang, was found dumped with gruesome injuries outside Rockingham Hospital, in Perth, about 10pm on May 14. Grantham, nicknamed 'Lethal Les,' had burns and multiple gun shot wounds to his upper body and leg - believed to have been attempts to remove some of his tattoos. He was rushed to Perth Royal Hospital and has since been discharged, but is refusing to co-operate with authorities. CCTV released on Friday appeared to show a group of people arriving at Auburn Grove Train Station in three separate vehicles. Police believe the group were meeting and swapping vehicles as part of their plans for the alleged attack on Grantham. Detectives also released footage from after the incident, which showed one of the vehicles from the earlier meeting entering Rockingham Hospital emergency department carpark. That car was a white and grey Holden dual-cab utility, with WA registration 1BFC417. Police believe the ute was used to transport Grantham to the incident location, and then to the hospital afterwards. Detective Senior Sergeant Todd White said police were continuing to seek public assistance in their investigation. 'If you're thinking of joining an outlaw motorcycle gang, think again,' he said. 'This man has been left with brutal, life-changing injuries due to his association with an outlaw motorcycle gang.' Grantham was previously jailed in 2017 over threatening to shoot a man unless he paid $10,000 to compensate a prostitute he had allegedly mistreated. He was also jailed in 2015 along with nine other Comanchero bikie members over a plot to extract 'protection' money' of $10,000 a month from the owners of a karaoke bar in Sydney's north shore. The Comanchero motorcycle gang was first established in Sydney in 1966 and has since grown to over 500 members nationwide. The patch features an old western wagon wheel on a red background.
