Bikies: Hells Angels are preparing to muscle into areas once dominated by rival gangs

Senior police say the Hells Angels are preparing to muscle into areas once dominated by rival gangs like the Mongols and Bandidos, who have fractured locally since the introduction of the Newman government’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment legislation.

“The Finks (Mongols) used to run Surfers Paradise but they are pretty much gone now,” a senior officer said.

“Everything changed with the crackdown. The Hells Angels have been keeping quiet in Robina and Varsity Lakes but they are preparing to move into Surfers.

“They want to see what happens with the VLAD legislation and my m

oney would be on them moving to the Burleigh Foreshore and Nobby Beach if the laws disappear.” It is understood the gang wants to emulate the Bandidos’ success in Broadbeach and plan to take over areas that will eventually become popular entertainment precincts.

 

 

 

“They understand south of Broadbeach will eventually be built up and are watching those places very closely,” he said.

 

Taskforce Maxima Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said the Hells ­Angels were now the most active club on the Gold Coast.

He said police intelligence showed members were meeting covertly to discuss drug deals and confirmed new members had been identified.

“They are always looking for new members,” Supt Smith said.

“The challenge for us is stopping recruitment through the legislation.”

While police prosecutors have been criticised for failing to put anyone behind bars for breaching VLAD legislation, Supt Smith said new laws had reduced gang violence on the Coast.

“Motorcycle crime drastically fell in Queensland last year while it rose in every other state,” he said.