FOR four decades the Vikings were content with their single Ballarat clubhouse, but the Hells Angels’ aligned bikies are now looking to establish a base in Griffith, the New South Wales town branded “the cannabis capital of Australia”.

The Vikings’ club colours were among those reportedly seen at a bloody ambush against the Bandidos and its then enforcer Toby Mitchell in March.

Although Vikings senior member Shane Wethling maintains they are just a social group of motorcycle enthusiasts, a senior office bearer for the club was also recently suspected of running guns from inside prison.

Another member is suspected of involvement in a drug trafficking ring linked to a member of the Hells Angels.

Wethling, who runs a commercial cleaning business in Ballarat, maintains he knew nothing about suspected illegal activity within the club’s ranks.

“I wasn’t part of it and I don’t want to be part of it,” he told the Firearms Appeals Committee, in a bid to reclaim his gun license this week. “We’re not like the other big clubs.”

Wethling rejected claims the Vikings acted as “foot soldiers” to the Hells Angels. But barrister Gerard Maguire, acting for the chief commissioner, described the Vikings as a “puppet club” for the Hells Angels, and questioned why now, as illegal bikie activity reaches a flash point, the Vikings have moved to establish a new base in Griffith.

There are about 10 individuals interested in becoming “nominees” or “prospects” for a Vikings base in Griffith, the committee heard. The Vikings have 20 to 30 existing members in Ballarat.

Wethling claimed the Griffith group approached his club about patching in. “It’s just like wearing football jumpers,” he said of the club colours. “It just shows you support the team.”

But Mr Maguire said authorities were concerned about the move given Griffith’s history as a hub of criminal activity. Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne Cheesman gave evidence on Wednesday, describing Griffith as “a hub of Italian organised crime activity”.

He said the Vikings were adversaries of the Bandidos and Finks turned Mongols, who also have chapters in Ballarat. The Hells Angels and Mongols have a history of bloody feuds in the United States.

Earlier this year members of the Vikings, Immortals, Finks, Derelicts and Rebels were identified by Chief Commissioner of Police Ken Lay as not “fit and proper” people to hold a firearms licence because of their membership of outlaw motorbike gangs.

There have been a number of appeals lodged through the Firearms Appeals Committee, including Wethling’s.

Wethling claims he needs his gun license for use on his farm.

THE AGE