Police have launched Operation Lune to monitor the activities of members of the Mongols motorbike gang who are gathering in Alice Springs in preparation for their national run, while the alleged national president of the gang was arrested in Darwin Tuesday morning the media has reported.

Commander Matthew Hollamby said in a statement Operation Lune resulted in the arrest of a 53-year-old man at Darwin Airport for an outstanding warrant that was issued by the Darwin Local Court in 2015, relating to an alleged aggravated assault at a Darwin nightclub in 2014.

Other media reported that the man arrested was Gold Coast-based bikie Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes, who is allegedly the national president of the Mongols.

Commdr Hollamby said the Mongols plan to ride from Alice Springs to Darwin this week and are expected to arrive in the Top End on Friday afternoon.

“While motorists in the Northern Territory are used to driving with long road trains, clusters of motorcycles can be a bit different,” he said.

“All road users’ safety is paramount and all road users should drive to the conditions and be cautious of the visibility limitations of motorcycle riders.”