OFF THE WIRE
Dylan Welch
smh.com.au
A TATTOO parlour in Coogee owned by two of Sydney's most notorious bikies has been gutted by fire after a petrol bombing, with the street gang Notorious the prime suspect.
Coogee Ink, on Coogee Bay Road, was burnt out just before 1am yesterday.
The fire forced the evacuation of about 30 people from the nearby flats.
Coogee Ink is owned by the national president of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club, Duax ''Dax'' Ngakuru, and a senior member, Mark Buddle.
The Comanchero have been feuding with the Sydney street gang Notorious, which was formed several years ago and is run by the drag racer-turned-gang boss Alen Sarkis.
In October, Mr Sarkis and his right-hand man, ''Crazy Dave'' Lima, brawled on Bondi's main street with Mr Buddle and another Comanchero associate, Michael Murray.
Mr Murray was left with a broken ankle and Mr Buddle, Mr Lima and Mr Sarkis were all charged with affray and placed on remand. All three have subsequently been bailed.
Yesterday, underworld and law enforcement sources told the Herald that Notorious was the most likely suspect. Police, however, are not proscriptive, saying senior Comancheros have a number of enemies who could be responsible.
Senior members of the Comanchero have been cutting through Sydney's underworld recently, with two believed to be responsible for kidnapping a heroin dealer and stealing tens of millions of dollars worth of heroin from him several months ago.
A dozen Comanchero members are also facing murder charges over the death of a Hells Angels associate, Anthony Zervas, during a brawl at Sydney Airport last year.
Mr Ngakuru has been overseas for several months, visiting the Comanchero associate and accused drugs mastermind Hakan Ayik in Cyprus, as well as taking trips to Pacific islands and Asia.
It is unclear whether he will return to Australia.
Mr Ayik, who has allegedly poured large sums of money into the Comancheros in recent years, was arrested last week in Cyprus after spending several months in hiding there.
dwelch@fairfax.com.au
