\n<\/p>\n
Police in Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia launched a large-scale crackdown on the Hells Angels motorcycle gang on Tuesday, deploying around 1,200 officers across 28 cities after authorities banned a local chapter.<\/p>\n
The western state’s interior ministry said more than 50 properties were searched from early morning, including homes and business premises of members and associates. Special police units were also involved.<\/p>\n
The operation, which the ministry described as one of the largest ever against biker gang crime in the western state, followed a ban on the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Leverkusen chapter.<\/p>\n
The president of the branch has been arrested after a warrant against him was issued.<\/p>\n
Raids took place in major cities including Leverkusen, Cologne, Dortmund and Duisburg.<\/p>\n
Several Hells Angels chapters have been banned in the state in recent years. A ban on the Hells Angels MC Concrete City chapter, imposed in 2017, was upheld by a higher administrative court in 2021.<\/p>\n
According to recent media reports citing the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), the Hells Angels had 29 chapters in North Rhine-Westphalia, with around 469 members. This made it the largest biker group in the state, ahead of rivals such as the Freeway Riders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n