Lorraine Williamson
In a coordinated operation named “Fontana” and “Correcaminos,” the Guardia Civil and the National Police apprehended a 35-year-old member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in Madrid. The individual was wanted internationally for commissioning the murder of a rival gang member in the United States and for smuggling over half a ton of cocaine into his home country.
The arrest occurred after more than two years of evasion, during which the fugitive used false identities from France and Slovakia.
Criminal background
The detainee had been on the run since 2020, following allegations that he paid $20,000 to have a rival gang member killed. Additionally, he is accused of smuggling more than 500 kilograms of cocaine into New Zealand, his country of origin. The charges also include involvement in a criminal organisation and money laundering.
Investigation and surveillance
Authorities began monitoring various Hells Angels chapters in Spain upon discovering the fugitive’s presence in the country. Anticipating a gathering at a chapter’s headquarters in Madrid, investigators observed the suspect entering the venue with other club members. He was later intercepted on the A2 motorway.
False documentation
At the time of arrest, the individual carried falsified documents, including a French identity card and passport, as well as a Slovakian identity card and driver’s license, all bearing his photograph but different names.
Awaiting extradition
The arrested individual is currently in custody, awaiting extradition to the United States to face charges. This operation was conducted in coordination with US and New Zealand authorities.
Hells Angels’ activities in Spain
The Hells Angels have been linked to various criminal activities in Spain. In November 2024, the Guardia Civil dismantled a drug trafficking organisation led by Hells Angels members in the Canary Islands, resulting in 12 arrests. The group was involved in drug distribution and extortion. In 2023, 6 members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club were arrested in the Canary Islands on charges of alleged involvement in organised crime, damages, serious threats, and coercion.
Similarly, in August 2020, a Hells Angels affiliate in Tenerife was disbanded for drug trafficking and business extortion. Six individuals with prior records were detained for controlling tattoo parlours and providing security for brothels.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) has been active in Spain for over two decades, with multiple chapters operating across the country, including Madrid, Barcelona, Mallorca, and the Canary Islands. The club is officially registered as a motorcycle association, but law enforcement agencies have repeatedly linked its members to organised crime, including drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and violent attacks.
Despite repeated crackdowns, the group continues to maintain a presence in Spain, operating through local chapters that organise motorcycle events and social gatherings while allegedly engaging in illicit activities behind the scenes.