Rebels Motorcycle Club

Criminal activities

In November 2000, police raided Rebels clubhouses in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia and seized drugs, firearms and even a crocodile. A number of people were arrested on charges relating to the items seized.

Two Rebel associates were arrested for the murder of Bandidos member Ross Brand after their clubhouse was raided, on 16 November 2008. Brand was shot dead outside the Bandidos clubhouse in Breakwater, Victoria on 22 October.

On 23 April 2009. A series of raids across Australia ended in 27 members of the Rebels being arrested on a number of charges. Drugs including methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine were seized as well as firearms, cash, stolen goods and stolen vehicles.

Edin "Boz" Smajovic, a Bosnian refugee and Rebels member, was shot dead at the Macarthur Auto Centre in Campbelltown, New South Wales. His funeral, which was held on 15 January 2009 at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, was attended by over 300 Rebels, including National President Alex Vella. He was referred to as their 'little brother'.

On 18 May 2009, Michael Paul Falzon was sentenced to ten years in prison for the trafficking of methamphetamine, which he had been producing in Mackay, Rockhampton and Dalby and used the Rebels to transport and sell it throughout Queensland and South Australia. The drug ring operated from 1999 until 2003 and made at least $1.5 million.

Conflict with the Rock Machine

Main article: Rock Machine–Rebels conflict

The Rebels began to be involved in a conflict, when a Rock Machine chapter was established in the Perth suburb of Myaree in 2009 by then Rock Machine MC Canada leader Critical J. The Rock Machine had arrived in Australia during 2008. At the time Sean Brown had given permission for a Nomads chapter to be formed. The defection of Rebels MC members to the Rock Machine MC sparked an ongoing violent feud between the groups, when the Rock Machine settled in Perth in 2009 there were allegations by media that a turf war broke out between the two rival motorcycle clubs, with exchanges between the two groups including firebombings, assaults and the assassination attempt in 2011 of Rebels WA president Nick Martin, who survived being shot, tensions remain ongoing.Nick Martin was shot dead in 2020.

On 14 April 2012, Anthony Perish (a Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club member), his brother Andrew (a Rebels Motorcycle Club member) and Matthew Lawton were sentenced to eighteen, nine and fifteen years respectively imprisonment for the homicide of convicted Sydney drug trafficker Terry Falconer, as well as firearms and drug dealing offences.

Overseas expansion

In January 2011, the New Zealand Police announced that the Rebels were attempting to set up a New Zealand chapter, and that this was not welcome. New Zealand has reportedly been deporting Australian Rebels members. Despite this, many members wearing Rebel's patches have been spotted throughout the North Island of New Zealand, and it is believed they now have a permanent presence in the country.

References

References

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2. (2015-07-13). "Alex Vella: From poverty to Rebels' president". ABC News.
3. "The Most Dangerous Biker Gangs in America".
4. allwordseo. (19 January 2014). "10 Most Notorious Biker Gangs".
5. (13 July 2015). "Rebels boss Alex Vella, stranded in Malta, speaks out over legal battle to return to Australia". abc.net.au.
6. (20 June 2014). "Relatives of Rebels boss Alex Vella stranded in Malta now allowed back into Australia". The Courier Mail.
7. "Brief outline of the statutory declaration provided in support of the application by the Commissioner for Police for a declaration of the Rebels Motorcycle Club operating in South Australia pursuant to the provisions of the ''Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008''".
8. Bradley, Carl. (8 February 2019). "Carl Bradley: NZ street gangs are facing an influx of Australian outlaw bikers". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
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11. Rich. "Triumph Motorcycle Land Speed Record Attempt Confirmed".
12. (23 April 2009). "Police arrest 27 bikies across Australia".
13. (15 January 2009). "Gunshot victim who 'didn't fear anything' buried". The Sydney Morning Herald.
14. [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25500113-12377,00.html Rebels MC speed supplier jailed for 10 years]{{dead link. (March 2025)
15. (15 December 2009). "Bikie gangs interest". Community Newspaper Group.
16. Luke Eliot. (11 February 2012). "Bikie gang flexes its muscles". West Australian Newspapers Limited.
17. Press, Australian Associated. (2020-12-13). "Former president of Rebels bikie gang shot dead at Perth drag race". The Guardian.
18. Schiekowski, Margaret. (14 April 2012). "Brothers locked up over lethal revenge on a killing". The Daily Telegraph.
19. (28 January 2011). "Aussie bikie gang Rebels 'not welcome'". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
20. Forbes, Michael. (29 January 2011). "Whanganui debates ban on 'outlaw' gang patches". [[The Dominion Post (Wellington).
21. (28 January 2011). "Kiwi police ready to fight Aussie gangs".