In November 2000, police raided Rebels clubhouses in
New South Wales,
Queensland and
Western Australia and seized
drugs,
firearms and even a
crocodile. A number of people were arrested on charges relating to the items seized. Two Rebel associates were arrested for the murder of
Bandidos member Ross Brand after their clubhouse was raided, on 16 November 2008. Brand was shot dead outside the Bandidos clubhouse in
Breakwater, Victoria on 22 October. On 23 April 2009. A series of raids across Australia ended in 27 members of the Rebels being arrested on a number of charges. Drugs including
methamphetamine,
heroin and
cocaine were seized as well as firearms, cash, stolen goods and stolen vehicles. Edin "Boz" Smajovic, a
Bosnian refugee and Rebels member, was shot dead at the Macarthur Auto Centre in
Campbelltown, New South Wales. His funeral, which was held on 15 January 2009 at
Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, was attended by over 300 Rebels, including National President
Alex Vella. He was referred to as their 'little brother'. On 18 May 2009, Michael Paul Falzon was sentenced to ten years in prison for the trafficking of
methamphetamine, which he had been producing in
Mackay,
Rockhampton and
Dalby and used the Rebels to transport and sell it throughout
Queensland and
South Australia. The drug ring operated from 1999 until 2003 and made at least $1.5 million.
Conflict with the Rock Machine The Rebels began to be involved in a conflict, when a
Rock Machine chapter was established in the
Perth suburb of Myaree in 2009 by then Rock Machine MC Canada leader Critical J. The Rock Machine had arrived in Australia during 2008. At the time Sean Brown had given permission for a Nomads chapter to be formed. The defection of Rebels MC members to the Rock Machine MC sparked an ongoing violent feud between the groups, when the Rock Machine settled in Perth in 2009 there were allegations by media that a turf war broke out between the two rival motorcycle clubs, with exchanges between the two groups including
firebombings, assaults and the assassination attempt in 2011 of Rebels WA president Nick Martin, who survived being shot, tensions remain ongoing.Nick Martin was shot dead in 2020. On 14 April 2012,
Anthony Perish (a
Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club member), his brother Andrew (a Rebels Motorcycle Club member) and Matthew Lawton were sentenced to eighteen, nine and fifteen years respectively imprisonment for the homicide of convicted Sydney drug trafficker Terry Falconer, as well as firearms and drug dealing offences. ==Overseas expansion==