Police in NSW and the ACT are preparing for the arrival of hundreds of Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang members into Canberra this weekend.
Motorists driving in and around the region can expect to see a police presence across all the major highway access point to the ACT, as well as some of the less-trafficked access roads.
In an attempt to avoid police interdiction, bikie gang members will be arriving to their meeting through different means - by car, by commercial flights, riding the roads only in pairs, trucking or trailering their bikes in.
It is understood the ACT has been chosen for the national meeting because the territory does not have the same anti-consorting legislation other states have used to effectively suppress overt bikie gang activity, allowing the gang members to ride in their club colours on ACT roads.
Detective Inspector Mathew Smith, in charge of the NSW Raptor Squad State Crime Command's southern region, which encompasses the ACT, said preparations are in place for the weekend but was cautious about providing any operational detail.
"We are fully aware of a significant [outlaw motorcycle gang] gathering planned in the ACT this weekend," he said.
"These criminal gangs go to great lengths to avoid police detection but equally, we have been interacting with them for some time so we have a level of knowledge about how they operate."
NSW legislation makes it an offence for convicted offenders to consort with two or more others, or with those who have received an official police warning. Police say these laws have been an effective tool in disengaging organised crime activity so that the most hardened of gang members - such as those that have served prison terms or been indicted for violent acts - cannot legally gather together or ride collectively without facing possible arrest.
However, the same laws do not apply in the ACT, which has frustrated a succession of the territory's top cops. Former ACT chief police officer Neil Gaughan, who retired this year, was outspoken about the anomaly.
The ACT now has four motorcycle gangs "in residence": the Rebels, Finks, Hells Angels and Comancheros. Of these, the "Commies" are understood to have built one of the strongest local chapters despite the violent stabbing murder of their commander, Pitasoni Tali Ulavalu, inside a Civic nightclub in July, 2020.
In March this year, a national gathering of the Rebels OMCG was held at the Greyhound Racing Club facilities at Symonston. Cordial pre-event liaison between the gang hierachy and local police effectively defused any potential flashpoints and gang members agreed not to conduct mass rides, allowing the Symonston gathering to proceed with relatively few issues.
However, it is understood that the same level of communication has not happened in the lead-up to this weekend's Comanchero gathering.
ACT police have rostered extra resources, including tactical members, to monitor the incoming bikies and their movements around the territory over the weekend.
