Ontario Provincial Police Hell's Angels Police conducted a series of raids in Waterloo Region last month, including a club in Kitchener.
Ontario Provincial Police said the raids were carried out on May 11, 13 and 21, and police arrested a Hells Angels member and four of his accomplices.
spokesman Opp told Global News that “hangaround” is a term used to describe those who are working to join the Hells Angels organization.
“The Hells Angels club has a tiered membership system. Hangaround is an official level just two levels below full membership,” spokesperson Angle Sloan told Global News in an email. “When a person begins the Hangaround phase, they are considered 'joined the program.' Hangaround members are subservient to prospective members and members, and are expected to do anything a member asks them to do.”
Search warrants were carried out at two residences and two unlicensed bars, one of which was the Hells Angels clubhouse in Kitchener.
“The investigation began following multiple reports of violent incidents associated with the nightclub,” Sloane said. “The Hells Angels remain a tactical investigative priority for the OPP-led motorcycle enforcement unit.”
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Police said officers seized a gun, a kilogram of cocaine, a large amount of alcohol and some electronic devices.
The Ontario Provincial Police did not share any information about the investigation, which led to the five arrests during the raids.
Police say a 46-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, both from Kitchener, face weapons and human trafficking charges.
Two other Kitchener men, aged 39 and 44, and a 37-year-old Cambridge man are facing human trafficking charges and charges of illegal sale of alcohol.
“The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is an OMG that uses their interest in motorcycles as a cover to engage in illegal activities such as drug trafficking, fraud, counterfeiting, money laundering, smuggling of contraband, extortion, violence and illegal gambling,” said Scott Wade, an Inspector of the Ontario Provincial Police.
“The Hells Angels have chapters and support clubs all over the province.”
Although they have been in Kitchener for many years, this international bike gang Making a splash in Peterborough At the time it opened a clubhouse on the outskirts of the Ontario city.
The house, in the town of Selwyn, Peterborough County, previously had the insignia of “Bad Boys MC” and “Peterborough Red Devils MC”, but was changed to “Hells Angels” in May.
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