Canberra police have stopped dozens of Rebels bikies among hundreds making their way into the ACT as part of what's believed to be their annual run this weekend.
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In a statement issued via Canberra lawyer Ben Aulich, who represents a number of senior ACT Rebels figures, the Rebels said their presence would boost the ACT economy.
"The weekend is a get together for a number of us. It's about camaraderie, it's about our bikes and doing what we love - it brings a lot of people and money into the Canberra community," the statement said.
"If you see us here in Canberra there is nothing that anyone needs to worry about."
Police were targeting outlaw motorcycle gang members at a traffic stop near the Fyshwick exit on the Federal Highway, close to the NSW border, on Friday afternoon.
They stopped about 30 bikie gang members as they passed through about 4pm but no arrests were made.
About 20 police officers pulled over almost 100 bikies bearing Rebels colours heading into the ACT on the Barton Highway about 5pm.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman confirmed the operation and said police were aware of a "collective gathering" of bikies in the territory during the next couple of days.
Officers from the ACT's Taskforce Nemesis had acted on shared intelligence between interstate police and the national police anti-gangs taskforce.
Taskforce Nemesis was set up to target illegal bikie gang activity in the ACT in July as part of national disruption efforts.
The police spokeswoman said Friday's operation had not been ramped up in response to the arrest of three outlaw motorcycle gang members this week.
She said the gathering was an annual event that had taken place before without any problems and police had "no reason" to believe there might be trouble this time.
"When Taskforce Nemesis was set up in July, we made our intentions quite clear in regards to outlaw motorcycle groups," she said.
"Anyone who chooses to participate and become associated with these gangs and their criminal activity should expect to be targeted by police."
NSW Police were also aware Rebels members were heading into the capital this weekend.
A spokesman said police had been working with ACT officers and had also been in regular contact with the Rebels in recent weeks.
"This correspondence serves to remind the Rebels of the laws that govern NSW and the fact that no illegal behaviour will be tolerated - either on or off the road," he said.
-with Michael Inman