In a scene that would make even the toughest biker shed a tear, these gold-plated Harley Davidson beasts, along with their swanky personalised plates, met their end under the crushing force of justice. The Police, armed with a recent court order, didn’t just crush these metallic symbols of rebellion; they sold their remains for scrap, striking a blow to the gang’s ego and finances.
Commissioner Andrew Coster revealed this was the first time the Police used the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act in such a badass way since its inception in early 2023. These bikes, seized back in April 2019 during the high-stakes Operation Nova, were part of a massive haul from a crackdown on the gang’s top dogs and their shady dealings.
Coster said, At the time Police made numerous arrests, and restrained around $4 million in assets from the gang, which included the six distinctive Harley Davidson motorcycles.’
This ‘crushing’ event was part of a larger mission to disrupt the illegal shenanigans of organised crime groups, targeting the ill-gotten gains that fuel their operations. Late last year, the Court gave the thumbs up to the Police’s request to turn these chrome stallions and their seven personalised plates into scrap.
Unlike other cases where the Financial Crime Group got the green light to forfeit assets to the consolidated crime fund, the unique nature of the Harley Davidsons and their plates meant they had to go – destroyed to ensure they wouldn’t end up back with the Comancheros, thwarting any chance of a gang reunion tour.
In a statement Coster said, ‘It is our view that the design of the motorcycles, and the personalised plates, are very distinctive and are exclusively linked to the Comancheros.’ He stressed the importance of ensuring these symbols of gang prestige didn’t circle back to their origins, undermining the Police’s efforts.
In addition to the bikes, Operation Nova put a $2.6 million dent in the gang’s assets. And in a final twist, a former Comanchero secretary, caught up in the operation’s net, was sent packing back to Australia this month, leaving the gang one man down and several bikes short.
The scrap from the bikes’ destruction will contribute to the consolidated fund, closing the chapter on this saga with a ‘clang of justice’.
