"Comanchero" Tried to Gain a Foothold at Construction Sites in Queensland — Hearing
The “Comanchero” biker gang attempted to secure the appointment of union delegates at construction sites in Queensland and establish affiliated companies in the state’s construction sector. This came to light during hearings of the Commission investigating the activities of the CFMEU union and violations in Queensland’s construction industry, according to ABC News Australia.
Senior Commission Counsel Eddie Gisonda, KC, stated that Australian intelligence agencies received information about the “Comanchero” group’s activities in early May 2024. According to him, over the previous 12 months, the group had taken steps to establish companies in the state of Victoria that could operate in the construction industry, primarily labor supply firms.
It was also revealed at the hearings that “Comanchero” members from Victoria had traveled to Queensland several months prior to May 2024. According to information provided by Gison, they sought to achieve the same objectives in that state: to place union representatives on construction sites and establish affiliated companies. He noted that this information did not pertain to a specific union, project, or contractor, but rather described the group’s general commercial operations.
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The day before, the commission heard testimony regarding a trip to Brisbane on June 5, 2024, by three men linked to “Comanchero”: Bemir Saracevic, Krstomir Belogrlic, and Mark Erna. Saracevic, known as Benji, was the gang’s former national president; Belogrlic was his business partner; and Ern was the former treasurer.
The hearings also addressed allegations that one of these men had allegedly threatened employee Cody Raymond at the Centenary Bridge construction site. According to Gisonda’s account, Raymond was accused of passing information about site security to the CFMEU during a protracted dispute between the union and the contractor BMD.
Gisonda reported that companies affiliated with “Comanchero” had entered into collective bargaining agreements with both the CFMEU in Victoria and the Australian Workers’ Union. In particular, an agreement between FSA Kerbs and Placement Pty Ltd and the Australian Workers’ Union was signed by Belogrlich in April 2025. The commission’s hearings are ongoing in Brisbane.
