BIKER NEWS: Bandidos national president says Darwin community and police have nothing to fear about their Top End presence

BIKER NEWS -- THE national president of outlaw motorcycle gang, the Bandidos, says the people or police of Darwin have nothing to fear about them setting up camp in the Top End.

Victorian-based Australian boss Jason Addison confirmed the gang had set up a Darwin chapter in what police fear could upset the local bikie ­applecart already crowded with Hells Angels and Rebels.

But Mr Addison said there would be “no dramas” with the existing clubs whom he had ­already held talks with.

Mr Addison officially opened the chapter this month, prompted by revelations in the Sunday Territorian the group had been scoping Darwin.

Police have long accused outlaw bikie gangs of running drugs into the NT, among a host of other unsavoury ­behaviours, but Mr Addison said his members were normal working men who liked to ride motorbikes.

“We are against drugs. It’s in our constitution about drugs. And for anybody to say that’s the reason we’re moving to town, it’s a load of s …, or else we would have been there 25 years ago,” he said.

“We are no trouble to the community at all. People don’t have to fear us in any way shape or form.”

It is a familiar line to police, who have warned the public to be wary of dealing with anyone associated with the group and to report suspicious behaviour.

“The community needs to be aware OMCGs are not harmless motorcycle clubs — they are well-organised criminal gangs causing harm and disruption across our country,” said acting Superintendent of the drugs and organised crime division Clint Sims.

“Members of OMCGs wearing 1 per cent patches ­believe they can operate outside the law — they cannot.”

He said bikie gangs were being targeted nationwide and by multiple agencies under banner of Operation Morpheus, which would use “traditional and non-traditional law enforcement methods.”

This includes executing warrants on club houses, investigating tax and welfare payments, monitoring travel and business activities.

Mr Addison would not say how many patched members were in Darwin, but the NT Newsunderstands there were fewer than 10 people identifying as Bandidos living in Darwin before the chapter opened.

Mr Addison said he would leave the decision as to whether there should be a clubhouse or not to the local chapter members.

Asked why to begin a new chapter in Darwin, he said: “It’s another capital city. We’ve got members who live up there who want to ride their motorcycles and still be part of the Bandido nation.”

This article was first published on NOVEMBER 12, 2015 12:42PM

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