An Australian outlaw bike gang apparently headed by Australians of Maltese descent have just been stopped from coming to Malta, arresting two high-ranking members on gun trafficking charges before they were due to come to Malta, apparently for a meeting with the gang’s chief, Alex Vella, who is stranded in Malta after his residency visa was rescinded by Australian authorities.
Senior members arrested
In a news report compiled by 9 News Sydney, a police strike force raided the homes of, and arrested, Damien Vella, who replaced Alex as National President of Australia’s Rebels Motorcycle Club, and Alex Vella Junior, Damien’s cousin. The two are charged with possession of illegal firearms along with two other people. Vella Junior might bear the brunt of the charges, as not only was he complicit in forcing an associate to store the guns against his will, but Vella Junior also threatened to kill the man’s daughter, stole his car and put it up for sale online.
It also appears that the timing of the arrests was critical, as the two younger Vellas had plans to make their way to Malta to link up with Alex Vella ahead of a worldwide meet up in Malta. Detective Chris Goddard, in a public statement, said that it’s obvious that the two were not coming to Malta for a family reunion, especially since international meets such as the upcoming one is an opportunity for the gang to discuss its global ambitions.
Damien Vella was granted bail following his arrest but was forced to give up his passport, while Alex Vella Junior was refused bail. The gang has a violent history littered with various criminal activities ranging from drug and firearm trafficking to homicide, so it’s left to the imagination to guess what a meeting in Malta is likely to involve if it does take place.
And although most of the comments on 9 News Sydney’s Facebook post commended the police on the find, one person feels that former president Alex Vella’s situation is unfair, writing “Anything to stop them seeing Alex home disgusting behaviour you can’t keep him out of the country forever #bringalexhome”.
