Rebels Motorcycle Club
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| 200px | |
| Motto | "Australia Outlaws Elite" RFFR |
|---|---|
| Location | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Founder | Clint Jacks |
| Leader | Alex Vella |
| Leader title | National President |
| Type | Outlaw motorcycle club |
| Region | Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Spain, Fiji, Malta |
| Marque | Harley-Davidson |
| Membership | 2,000+ |
| Website | www |
The Rebels Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club in Australia with around 70 chapters and 2,000+ members nationwide making it the largest club in the country.[1] It was founded by Clint Jacks in Brisbane, Queensland in 1969 and was originally named the "Confederates". Their insignia is a Confederate flag with a cap-wearing skull and 1% patch in the centre. The Australian government and law enforcement consider the Rebels to be a criminal organisation but the club claims to be a group of motorcycle enthusiasts rather than gangsters.[2] The National President is currently former Maltese boxer Alex Vella.[3]
Its constitution states it is a non profit organisation which promotes the riding of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and stipulates that members must own one and that drugs are "looked down on" within the club and "something you and your club can go without" with heroin and smoking methamphetamine being totally taboo. Members are only permitted to join the club once and never to join another motorcycle club.[4]
It claims to be "the biggest all big twin Harley-Davidson club in the world".
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.[5]
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.[6][7]
A series of raids across Australia ended in 27 members of the Rebels being arrested on a number of charges, on 23 April 2009. Drugs including methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine were seized as well as firearms, cash, stolen goods and stolen vehicles.[8]
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 January 15, 2009 at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, was attended by over 300 Rebels, including National President Alex Vella. He was referred to as their 'little brother'.[9]
On 18 May 2009, Michael Paul Falzon was sentenced to ten years in prison for the trafficking of a dangerous drug. He produced methamphetamine (speed) 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.[10]
On April 14, 2012, Anthony "Rooster" 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 imprisonment for the homicide of convicted Sydney drug trafficker Terry Falconer, as well as firearms and drug dealing offences.[11]
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.[12] New Zealand has reportedly been deporting Australian Rebels members.[13] Despite this, many members wearing Rebels patches have been spotted throughout the North Island of New Zealand and it is believed they now have a permanent presence in the country.[14]
References
- ↑ Australia’s most dangerous bikie gangs
- ↑ http://bikergangblog.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/top-10-notorious-biker-gangs/
- ↑ Head of the Rebels bikie gang wins multi-million-dollar lawsuit against ANZ Bank
- ↑ http://www.agd.sa.gov.au/news/pdfs/2009/RebelsPublicInformationSheet.pdf
- ↑ Police raid Rebels in three states
- ↑ Two men arrested after Rebels Motorcycle Club raid
- ↑ Australian authorities raid motorcycle clubhouse over shooting
- ↑ Police arrest 27 bikies across Australia
- ↑ Gunshot victim who 'didn't fear anything' buried
- ↑ Rebels MC speed supplier jailed for 10 years
- ↑ Margaret Schiekowski: "Brothers locked up over lethal revenge on a killing: Daily Telegraph: 14.04.2012
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Kiwi police ready to fight Aussie gangs - National - NZ Herald News
