A bikie believed to be one of Victoria’s most influential scene figures will be sent back to New Zealand.
Ray Elise, Victorian president of the Rebels MC, has been taken into immigration detention and is facing imminent deportation, with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton promising “more to come”. His office has cancelled the visas of more than 270 men allegedly involved in organised crime.
Elise, who is in immigration detention, has been targeted due to criminal offending from a young age, a failure to seize rehabilitation opportunities, disregard for Australian laws, and having “an extensive network of criminal associates”.
“I have cancelled the visa of a senior member of the Rebels in Victoria because the Rebels is a notorious group of thugs, drug dealers and thieves,” Mr Dutton said.
“Outlaw motorcycle gangs come together to commit crime and make money.
If you are worried about your kids or grandchildren getting hooked on drugs then be worried about bikie gangs.”
The bikie’s TY Subclass 444 Special Category (Temporary) visa has been cancelled on character grounds and because Mr Dutton believes it is in the national interest.
Elise, who it is believed also goes by the names Ray Siloi and Mace Raymond Sitoper, has been known by Victoria Police for years but has flown under the radar and avoided media attention.
Police gave a report to the Department of Home Affairs in February, outlining their concerns about the Rebels bikie’s growing influence in Melbourne.
The anti-bikie Echo Taskforce believes Elise has been involved with the Rebels for at least four years.
He had a swift rise in the ranks to become Victorian state president in April 2018.
Elise has a long criminal record in New Zealand. In 2005 he was convicted of unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm and unlawfully presenting a firearm at a person.
He was also convicted of three counts of behaving threateningly in 2010.
Victoria Police stopped him in January 2015 while he was wearing a Rebels MC colors and he has been stopped by police several times since wearing Rebels MC marked clothing. He has also been stopped by police at the Rebels Melbourne clubhouse.
When he was pulled over by police in September last year he denied he was a Rebels member and said “he had only worked with members”.
“Bikies are the biggest distributors of amphetamine in the country and are all-round bad people,” Mr Dutton said.
“Outlaw motorcycle gangs destroy lives, families and communities and I will do everything in my power to protect Australians from criminals who seek to do us harm.”
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Source: Herald Sun