The national president of Australia’s biggest bikie gang, the Rebels, has had his visa cancelled while on an overseas trip to his native Malta, The Australia reported today.

Immigration minister Scott Morrison personally made the decision not to allow the 60-year-old gang president Alex Vella, also known as the Maltese Falcon, to re-enter Australia.

The decision is likely to represent a significant check to the activities of the gang, which have been one of the key targets of law-enforcement authorities, who established a national taskforce to target the gang.

Mr Vella was due to appear in the NSW Supreme Court later this month, after police sought a court order earlier this year challenging the alleged use of his western Sydney property as a bikie clubhouse.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he cancelled the Mr Vella’s visa, while he was out of the country on Friday.

Mr Morrison said the cancellation was done “using the character provisions of the Migration Act’’.

Mr Vella could not be contacted by The Australia.

Long-serving Sydney-based Rebels national president Alex Vella – known as the Maltese Falcon – had been on vacation in Malta when authorities cancelled his visa. Source: News Limited

Rebels motorcycle gang members ride in a procession of more than three hundred from their Bringelly Clubhouse in southwestern Sydney to Mildura led by Alex Vella. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Limited