Comancheros Allegedly Tried to Muscle Into Queensland Construction Sites, Inquiry Hears

An inquiry into misconduct in Queensland's construction industry has heard allegations that the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang attempted to infiltrate the sector by installing union delegates and establishing their own businesses.

“

The Comancheros had taken measures over the preceding 12 months to establish their own companies that could operate in the construction industry in Victoria, most particularly labour hire companies.

Senior Counsel Assisting Eddy Gisonda KC told the Commission of Inquiry that Australian intelligence agencies had received reports in early May 2024 indicating the Comancheros had already placed union delegates at construction sites in Victoria. Furthermore, the gang had reportedly spent the preceding 12 months working to create their own companies, particularly labor hire firms, to operate within the construction industry in Victoria.

“

Victorian members of the Comancheros had travelled to Queensland in the months prior to May 2024 with the aim of achieving those two objectives in the state of Queensland as well.

Victorian members of the Comancheros were alleged to have traveled to Queensland in the months leading up to May 2024 with the dual objectives of installing union delegates on Queensland construction sites and establishing linked companies. Gisonda described this as a "general commercial push" by the Comancheros, noting that the intelligence was not specific to any particular union, site, or contractor.

“

That is the installation of union delegates on construction sites in Queensland … and the establishment of their own linked companies operating in the construction industry in Queensland.

The inquiry also heard about an alleged incident where three individuals linked to the Comancheros visited Queensland and one reportedly threatened a worker at the Centenary Bridge construction site. Flight and phone records presented to the inquiry indicated that Bemir Saracevic, the former national president of the Comancheros, his business partner Krstomir Bjelogrlic, and former gang treasurer Mark Ahern arrived in Brisbane on June 5, 2024. The head of the security company for the site, Gary Samuel, allegedly told a site manager that the men were merely social acquaintances, despite allegations they were involved in union disputes and contractor conflicts.

“

The intelligence wasn't union, site or contractor specific, rather it was a 'general commercial push' by the Comancheros.