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Comanchero Motorcycle Club

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Comanchero Motorcycle Club
Founded1968; 56 years ago (1968)[1] or 1973[2]
Founded atSydney, Australia
TypeOutlaw motorcycle club
Region
New South Wales, Victoria, Auckland, Bosnia, Spain, USA, Thailand[3]
Membership650-1000 (2019 est.)[4]

The Comanchero Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle gang in Australia and South East Asia. The Comancheros are participants in the United Motorcycle Council of NSW, which convened a conference in 2009 to address legislation aimed against the "bikie" clubs, their poor public image in the wake of several violent clashes and ongoing biker wars, and defusing deadly feuds such as the Comancheros' battles with the Hells Angels.[5][6] The sincerity of these efforts to defend the battered image of the clubs has been met with skepticism.[7][8]

History

[edit]

William George "Jock" Ross, a Scottish immigrant, formed the club originally in Glasgow Scotland, then after emigrating to Sydney, New South Wales, in 1968.[1] He chose the name after seeing the 1961 John Wayne film The Comancheros. (There was already a Californian motorcycle club of the same name, first mentioned in a 1965 article by Hunter S. Thompson, and in his book Hell's Angels a year later.[2]) Ross hung a sign on the wall of the Comancheros' clubhouse that read: "If it's white, sniff it/If it's female or it moves, fuck it/If it narks-kill it"".[9]

Ross-who gave himself the grandiose title of "Supreme Commander"-ran his club in extremely authoritarian and militaristic manner.[10] The Comancheros were considered to be the most violent of Australia's many outlaw biker clubs in the 1970s-1980s owing to their frequent brawls.[10] Ross required his men to engage in weekly para-military drills and he formed an elite force which he called the Strike Force of especially tough members.[10] Many Comancheros disliked Ross as one former member told the media: "If I wanted to march around in the fuckin' backyard, I would had joined the fuckin' army".[10]

In 1983 a second Comanchero chapter was formed by Anthony Mark "Snoddy" Spencer, who had broken away from the first chapter after challenging Ross' authority. When visiting the United States with Charles Paul "Charlie" Scibberas, another member of the second chapter, Spencer met with members of the Texan motorcycle club the Bandidos and the two gangs became allies. At the time, P2P, one of the chemicals necessary for manufacture of amphetamines, were legal in Australia, but not in the United States.[11] The Bandidos wanted an alliance to have P2P smuggled into the United States to assist with manufacturing amphetamines, the market for which they dominated in Texas.[11] The Bandidos eventually patched-over the second Comanchero chapter to become the Bandidos' first Australian chapter in November 1983.[12]

The Comancheros and Bandidos were now rivals, and in September 1984 the two clubs engaged in the Milperra massacre, a shoot-out that left seven people dead – four Comancheros, two Bandidos, and a 14-year-old bystander.[13] Ross received a lifetime jail sentence for his involvement in the gunfight,[1] but served only five years and three months before he was released.[why?][citation needed] In 2002, Ross was deposed as the Comanchero "supreme commander" by the Lebanese immigrant Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi who now assumed that title.

The Comancheros and Hells Angels clashed at Terminal 3 of Sydney Airport on 22 March 2009 in a brawl involving 10 people in the two rival bikie gangs. The brawl left Anthony Zervas, the brother of a Hells Angel, dead. The fighting was witnessed by over 50 travellers, CCTV cameras and airport staff, including airport security, who could do little to intervene. The security staff were unarmed and Australian Federal Police arrived late.[14] Six Comancheros were arrested as a result of the altercation and convicted of "riot and affray".[15] In November 2011 Comancheros leader Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi was found guilty of affray and murder,[16] but in May 2014 the murder conviction was overturned on appeal and a retrial ordered. Hawi pleaded guilty to manslaughter and in March 2015 he was sentenced to a minimum of 3.5 years jail.[17][18][19] In February 2018 Hawi was shot dead, at age 37, whilst sitting in his car outside a gym in Rockdale, NSW.[20]

In late 2009 Duax Ngakuru was elected as national president. Mark Buddle became the national president in 2011 when Ngakuru fled Australia. Mick Murray was appointed acting national president in 2016 when Buddle in turn fled Australia.[6][21][22] The Comanchero was described as being ruled by a triumvirate that consisted of Melbourne chapter president Mick Murray, the national sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed and Sydney chapter president Allan Meehan. On 20 August 2017 a brawl broke out at a strip club in Canberra between the members of the Comanchero Victoria and New South Wales chapters.[23] The brawl led to Buddle to attempt to reassert his authority by sending Ali Bazzi to run the club in his absence.[23]

The Comanchero experienced a period of turmoil in 2022–2023. Mick Murray, the president of the Melbourne chapter was arrested for first degree murder on 28 April 2022.[24] Tarek Zahed, the national sergeant-at-arms, was badly wounded during a murder attempt on 8 May 2022.[25] Mark Buddle was extradited from Turkey to Australia to face charges of drug smuggling on 2 August 2022.[26] Zahed was charged with first degree murder on 29 August 2022.[27] Duax Ngakuru was arrested in Turkey on 14 January 2023 on charges of drug smuggling.[28] Allan Meehan, the new national president was convicted of violating the Serious Crime Prevention Order issued against him by the New South Wales police on 6 July 2023.[29] Alex Vare became the new boss in 2023.[30] In October 2023, Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya publicly announced on Twitter that, Turkish police has detained 37 "full patch" members of the gang in Istanbul.[31] The Australian police have stated that many of the drugs sold by the Comanchero come from the port of Vancouver, which is controlled by the East End Vancouver chapter of the Hells Angels.[32] Superintendent Jared Taggart of the Australian Federal Police stated that despite the violent clashes between the Australian Hells Angels and the Comancheros, that: "It’s that ever-evolving business model of transnational serious and organized crime and their willingness to co-operate together, even when they say that they’re enemies and that they don’t co-operate. That’s all really smoke and mirrors. It’s all about power, control and harm on our communities."[32]

Perth chapter

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The Comancheros established a single Western Australian chapter in 2010 which is located on Wellman Street, Northbridge, at the Fitness and Fight Centre.[33]

The Comanchero expansion into Western Australia was delayed by the 2010 arrest of Steve Milenkovski who was about to be patched as the Perth's Chapter president when he was arrested in the culmination of Operation Baystone.[34] Operation Baystone resulted in Milenkovski, Yavuz Ozan, Hao Bi, and Mark Vick Kitos being charged with various drug offences. The operation seized 7.5 kilograms of methylamphetamine brought to Western Australia from New South Wales.[35]

In August 2012 Milenkovski was found guilty of two counts of Possess a Prohibited Drug with Intent to Sell or Supply after a 9-week Perth District Court trial and sentenced to 17 years jail as the "king pin". Two of his co-accused, were convicted of one charge each of attempted possession including David Tanevski who was sentenced to eight years' jail. Hao Bi, who was alleged to have been the courier was acquitted.[36][37]

In May 2014 eight men including two patched members of the Comanchero were charged for allegedly extorting businesses in Northbridge, Western Australia.[38]

Other chapters

[edit]

Popular criminal Vince Focarelli was kicked out of the Hells Angels. He then joined other clubs including the Comancheros, and set up his own club. He left the Comancheros later. He and his son Giovanni were shot at by unknown assailants in 2012. Vince was sent to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and his son died. He refused to name any suspects even though this was not the first time he was targeted. While Vince was in hospital, he was visited by friends who were Finks members. Some Finks members also visited the funeral of Giovanni.[39][40]

In July 2023, Alen Mordian, a senior Comanchero gang member, was shot dead by unknown persons. A few months later, a senior gang member and his sister were arrested, with drugs and weapons being seized.[41][42]

By 2018, the Comancheros had expanded to New Zealand. The migration of outlaw bikers from Australia into New Zealand had been driven by the Australian Government's policy of deporting convicted non-citizen felons under Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958.[43][44] The Comancheros used social media to recruit young people into their gang and became involved in the methamphetamine black market.[44] In mid-September 2024, the New Zealand Police charged 41 members and affiliates of the Comancheros with a total of 137 charges and seized NZ$9.2 million worth in assets following a complex three-year investigation. Police alleged that the Comancheros chapter was operating as an organised crime group involved in money laundering, drug importation and distribution, and a "Commission" scheme to fund military-style training for some of its members.[45] The New Zealand Herald also reported that a former US Marine had trained Comanchero members in combat drills and military tactics as part of a "ghost team."[46]

Infighting

[edit]

On 5 September 2012, Comanchero member Faalau Pisu was murdered, being shot in the head outside the Serbian National Defence Council at Canley Vale, New South Wales whilst attending a wedding. A 25-year-old gang member and a 27-year-old associate of the club were also shot and injured.[47] NSW Police allege that an internal rift within the Comancheros was behind recent shootings involving Comanchero members.[48]

It was later revealed by authorities and media that the Comancheros were at conflict with the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club, who had been partially responsible for the infighting. Members of Rock Machine chapters in New South Wales had reported links to a Serbian organized crime group and used that influence to patch over members of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club in mid 2012, causing tension with existing Sydney Comancheros. One of those Rock Machine members to patch over, Faalau Pisu, would be shot dead at a wedding in south-west Sydney on November 5.[49] Two days later, the Rock Machine Sydney chapter retaliated against the Comancheros for the murder of Pisu. Comancheros member, John Devine, was shot six times at a construction site in Rhodes. Devine was the cousin of Comancheros leader, Mark Buddle. Australian authorities also reported tensions between the Rock Machine chapter in Maroubra and the Comancheros in Milperra. The situation would resolve itself, with Mark Buddle, being forced to flee Australia due to a litany of charges against him for unrelated matters.[50]

See also

[edit]

Books

[edit]
  • Edwards, Peter (2010), The Bandido Massacre; A True Story of Bikers, Brotherhood and Betrayal, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, ISBN 978-0307372765
  • Sher, Julian; Marsden, William (2010). Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers' Empire of Crime. Toronto: Alfred Knopf Canada. ISBN 9780307370327.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e McDougall, Bruce (23 March 2009), "Warring bikie gangs revive infamous Milperra Massacre", The Daily Telegraph, archived from the original on 17 January 2010
  2. ^ a b Veno, Arthur (2004). The Brotherhoods. Allen & Unwin. p. 168. ISBN 1-74114-137-0. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  3. ^ "The Comancheros motorcycle gang are rolling west into Victoria". Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  4. ^ Australia’s most dangerous biker gangs 23 April 2009 Archived 30 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, ralph.ninemsn.com.au; accessed 1 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Conference bikies converge on Brisbane", Brisbane Times, 7 August 2009
  6. ^ a b Welch, Dylan; Dart, Jonathan (7 August 2009). "Secret list of bikie club members accidentally sent to rival gang". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ^ Kent, Paul (7 August 2009), "Ferreting out the truth on outlaw bikie gangs", The Daily Telegraph, retrieved 6 March 2016
  8. ^ Thompson, Hunter (17 May 1965). "The Motorcycle Gangs". The Nation. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  9. ^ Edwards 2010, p. 44-45.
  10. ^ a b c d Sher & Marsden 2010, p. 117.
  11. ^ a b Edwards 2010, p. 44.
  12. ^ Kent, Paul (28 March 2009). "The gang wars explained - 40 years of bikie hatred". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  13. ^ Brown, Malcolm (22 April 2006). "Heavy price of loyalty". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  14. ^ Dylan Welch, Les Kennedy and Ellie Harvey (23 March 2009). "Bikie killed in Sydney Airport brawl". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  15. ^ Davies, Lisa (2 November 2011). "Comanchero Club boss Mick Hawi found guilty of airport murder". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  16. ^ Wells, Jamelle (court reporter) (2 November 2011). "Bikie boss guilty of murder over airport brawl". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2017. The jury was told: Anthony Zervas suffered massive head injuries and stab wounds as he was attacked with metal bollards, kicked, punched and stomped on as he lay on the ground
  17. ^ R v Hawi (2015), austlii.edu.au; accessed 6 March 2016.
  18. ^ Wells, Jamelle; Hoerr, Karl (13 March 2015). "Ex-bikie boss sentenced to jail over fatal Sydney Airport brawl". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  19. ^ Arup, Tom (30 March 2009). "Police response to airport brawl in spotlight". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  20. ^ "'Not good for business': Former Comancheros chief Mahmoud Hawi gunned down in gym car park". ABC News. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Green stops Jones in first round". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Bikie court bungle 'put lives at risk'", ABC News, 7 August 2009, retrieved 16 December 2015
  23. ^ a b Proudman, Dan; Ralston, Nick (29 October 2017). "'Commander of the world': Bikie boss attempts to quell fears of civil war with a text". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  24. ^ Lucadou-Wells, Cam (28 April 2022). "Comanchero boss charged with murder". Dandenong Star Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed shot and brother killed in attack at Sydney gym". The Guardian. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  26. ^ Turnbull, Tiffanie (2 August 2022). "Mark Buddle: Australian motorcycle gang boss extradited from Turkey". BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed to face murder charge after dramatic arrest in Sydney". The Guardian. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  28. ^ "New Zealand police confirm Kiwi-born Comancheros 'Supreme Commander' Duax Ngakuru arrested in Turkey". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Bikie boss Allan Meehan arrives at court in flashy Versace tie". News.com.Au. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  30. ^ "World commander of notorious Comanchero bikie gang revealed". The West Australian. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  31. ^ Yerlikaya, Ali. "İSTANBUL'DA DÜZENLENEN KAFES OPERASYONU İLE AVUSTURALYA MERKEZLİ OLARAK KÜRESEL ÇAPTA FAALİYET GÖSTEREN VE LİDERLİĞİNİ HAKAN AYIK'IN (REİS) YAPTIĞI ULUSLARARASI SİLAHLI ORGANİZE SUÇ ÖRGÜTÜ COMANCHERO ÇÖKERTİLDİ!". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  32. ^ a b Bolan, Kim (22 January 2024). "Lethal Exports: B.C. gangsters at the centre of a global drug trade". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  33. ^ Bikies fly in for club celebration Archived 24 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, au.news.yahoo.com; accessed 1 September 2015.
  34. ^ Halting steps mark bikie battle Archived 4 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, au.news.yahoo.com; accessed 1 September 2015.
  35. ^ "Comanchero president in drug bust". The Australian. 26 February 2010.
  36. ^ Three men guilty of drugs charges, ABC.net.au; accessed 1 September 2015.
  37. ^ Brown, Anne-Louise (14 September 2012), "Head bikie gets 17 years for drug haul", watoday.com.au, retrieved 1 September 2015
  38. ^ WAHLQUIST, Calla (23 May 2014), "Three men linked to the Comancheros charged with extortion", perthnow.com.au, archived from the original on 27 May 2014, retrieved 1 September 2015
  39. ^ "Bedside visit from a loyal friend". adelaidenow. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  40. ^ "How a bikie feud turned deadly". adelaidenow. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  41. ^ "Sister of high-profile Comanchero boss arrested as anti-gang squad swoops". 8 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Gun found in torched Porsche could be key to solving Bondi gangland killing". 27 June 2023.
  43. ^ Bradley, Carl (8 February 2019). "Carl Bradley: NZ street gangs are facing an influx of Australian outlaw bikers". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  44. ^ a b Vance, Andrea; Ensor, Blair; McGregor, Iain (December 2019). "Con Air: Flying to New Zealand in handcuffs". Stuff. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  45. ^ Sherwood, Sam (17 September 2024). "Nearly all of Comanchero gang facing charges following three-year investigation". Stuff. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  46. ^ Savage, Jared (17 September 2024). "'Ghost Team': Police allege former US marine trained Comanchero gang members in military tactics". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  47. ^ Morello, Vincent (5 November 2012), "Comanchero bikie shot dead at wedding", The West Australian, archived from the original on 9 November 2012, retrieved 1 September 2015
  48. ^ "Comanchero rift may be behind Sydney shooting", The West Australian, 8 November 2012, retrieved 1 September 2015[permanent dead link‍]
  49. ^ "'Bloodiest bikie war' set for next chapter". 27 August 2013.
  50. ^ "Violence erupts in bikies' leadership vacuum". 11 November 2012.
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