Australian Federal Police and New South Wales officers have made eight arrests during a major gathering of the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang in Canberra. The coordinated police operation targeted the gang's 'National Run', which saw more than 250 members converge on the capital between Friday, November 14, and Sunday, November 16, 2025.
Cross-Border Police Operation
Multiple police teams from both ACT and NSW jointly monitored the bikies throughout their planned meeting and group ride. The high-visibility operation aimed to prevent and disrupt illegal activities during the event, with police establishing vehicle checkpoints at strategic locations.
NSW Raptor Squad officers arrested three people as Bandidos members passed through two vehicle checkpoints across the border. According to police statements, two men aged 27 and 40 were allegedly found with cocaine and ketamine. Both face drug possession charges and will appear in NSW courts at later dates.
Another 62-year-old member was charged after police allegedly discovered he was driving with a cancelled licence. Despite the arrests, NSW police reported no other anti-social or alcohol-related incidents within their jurisdiction.
Canberra Arrests and Drug Testing
ACT police confirmed five additional Bandidos members were arrested in Canberra during the operation. Detective Sergeant Paul Reynolds explained that police staged a significant overt presence, particularly during Saturday morning's group ride.
Members of ACT's Taskforce Invidia, which specifically targets bikie-related crime, conducted drug and breath tests at the Dairy Road precinct in Fyshwick. Five men tested positive to prohibited substances and received immediate 12-hour driving and riding suspensions.
While police could not immediately confirm the specific drugs detected due to ongoing secondary testing, they revealed members were screened for cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine. Court dates will be set once confirmatory testing identifies the substances and summons are issued.
Community Impact and Police Response
The police operation also resulted in eight defect notices for unroadworthy vehicles. Despite initial concerns from local businesses at Dairy Road, who reported an 'uneasy feeling' when nearly 100 Bandidos members arrived in full colours on Friday, the event concluded without major incidents.
One business owner described the outlaw motorcycle gang as 'very respectful' of the Dairy Road community, noting they enjoyed 'a fairly normal weekend of trade'. Tenants had been previously informed about a book launch event that would involve significant police presence and more than 250 motorcycle arrivals.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman confirmed no significant incidents occurred during the gathering. This marks the third large-scale OMCG meeting in Canberra this year, following similar events organized by the Rebels in June and Hells Angels in February.
The coordinated effort between ACT and interstate gang units demonstrates ongoing law enforcement focus on monitoring and disrupting outlaw motorcycle gang activities during their national gatherings.
