April 28, 2026, 11:34 amApril 28, 2026, 11:34 am
The police in western Germany are taking action against the rocker group Hells Angels with a large-scale raid.
The Interior Ministry of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia said 1,200 officers were deployed in 28 cities. The authorities had previously banned the “Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Leverkusen”. The branch’s president was arrested and there is an arrest warrant against him.
Predatory extortion and criminal organization
According to the ministry, this is one of the largest operations to combat rocker crime in Germany’s history. Accordingly, more than 50 properties have been searched since the early hours of the morning. Special forces are also deployed. The Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, wants to comment on details in a press statement in the state parliament – the federal state’s parliament – later today.
The Düsseldorf police and the special public prosecutor’s office at the central and contact point for the prosecution of organized crime (ZeOS) in North Rhine-Westphalia are in charge. The investigation involves, among other things, suspicions of formation and membership in a criminal organization as well as predatory extortion.
It started at 4 a.m
According to investigators, a 46-year-old suspect was arrested in Langenfeld. According to information from the German Press Agency (dpa), it is the president of the Hells Angels in Leverkusen. According to ZeOS, there is an arrest warrant against the 46-year-old.
The searches in the homes and business premises of club members and supporters began at 4 a.m. and initially continued. In addition to searching for evidence, the police are also concerned with securing assets in the large-scale operation. In an earlier raid against the rockers, motorcycles and cash, among other things, were confiscated.
Hells Angels are the largest rocker club in North Rhine-Westphalia
In North Rhine-Westphalia, other Hells Angels branches (“chapters”) have already been banned in recent years. As the newspaper “Neue Westfälische” reported a few days ago, the Hells Angels recently had 29 chapters in the most populous German state. With 469 members, the club has recently grown significantly – partly due to defections from the rival “Bandidos”.
This makes the Hells Angels the largest rocker group in North Rhine-Westphalia to date – ahead of the Freeway Riders with 403 members in 37 chapters. (sda/dpa)