BIKIES known as the “Terror Team’’ are among an influx of outlaw motorcycle club members to Victoria.
Former Queensland Finks Greg Keating and Shane Bowden, office bearers of the club, have established themselves as “Nomad’’ bikies within Melbourne’s Mongols chapters.
Both Keating and Bowden became Mongols, an international bikie gang, following its near complete national “patch-over’’ of the Finks last year.
The influx from Queensland and other states includes some of the most prominent outlaw bikies in Australia.
Victoria, once regarded as “Switzerland’’ in the sense of being a neutral state, is yet to ban a gang under the Criminal Organisation Control Act.
But Premier Denis Napthine said any bikies moving to Victoria to avoid tougher laws interstate would receive a “rude shock”.
“I say to criminal bikie gangs, there is no place to run, there is no place to hide in Victoria,” Dr Napthine said. “We have the legislation, we have the police, and we will get you.”
The “Terror Team’’ cell, whose motto is “Violence with Attitude’’, has a history of stand-over tactics, extortion and assaults on the Gold Coast.
Bowden, who shot Hells Angel Christopher Wayne Hudson during a 2006 fight night in Carrara dubbed the “Ballroom Blitz’’, has been in Melbourne for almost a year.
Keating, his close friend and fearsome sergeant-at-arms, has been known to use any means necessary to discipline his members.
Documents filed in the Supreme Court in Queensland detailed how the Terror Team stood over small businesses and controlled Orchid Avenue nightclubs. But the state’s tough anti-bikie stance has led to an exodus.
Assistant Commissioner (Crime Command) Steve Fontana told 3AW it was not uncommon for bikie groups to move around.
“They do move around, and that’s always a concern, but we do (focus on) these individuals,’’ he said.
“We have had a number relocate to Victoria and we are aware of this particular group.’’
Police forces and national crime authorities were co-ordinating nationwide to share intelligence on bikie gangs, Mr Fontana said.
anthony.dowsley@news.com.au