Senior Hells Angels figure Angelo Pandeli detained in Dubai

Angelo Pandeli, a senior Hells Angels figure and one of Australia’s most wanted individuals, has reportedly been detained in the Middle East. Authorities apprehended the 52-year-old in Dubai within the last 24 hours, though it remains uncertain if he will face charges.

Pandeli holds a significant role in the international drug trade, being one of Australia’s primary importers of cocaine and methamphetamine. In 2021, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission identified him as part of a syndicate responsible for bringing $1.5 billion worth of drugs into Australia annually.

After leaving Australia in 2018, Pandeli has been closely monitored while travelling through the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Many high-profile Australian criminals have opted to purchase property and reside in Dubai with their families, including Pandeli.

Pandeli is recognised for uniting leaders of various gangs to conduct their dealings using Dubai as a base. A photograph shows Pandeli with his wife and children during a family boat day, with the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel in the background.

This development comes just days before Pandeli was scheduled to travel to Cancun, Mexico, for a significant Hells Angels meeting. Senior members were expected to discuss drug importations into Australia and celebrate affiliations with the Nomads, another Australian bikie group. Hells Angels members from Thailand, Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, and Eastern Europe were also expected to attend.

The gathering, likely to occur at a multi-storey clubhouse in Cancun, was set to begin on September 5. Leaders from other motorcycle gangs interested in collaborating with the Hells Angels were also anticipated.

In 2017, Pandeli was acquitted of tax fraud charges related to the 2014-2015 financial year after allegedly failing to lodge tax returns and ignoring a notice from the Australian Tax Office. His accountant claimed a software error prevented the return from being properly submitted.

Pandeli’s tax fraud charges were part of Operation Morpheus, a nationwide effort to combat organised crime, including outlaw motorcycle gangs. In 2018, authorities raided his home due to suspicions of a plot to import $250 million worth of ice into Australia via a light plane.

Pandeli joined the Hells Angels in the 2000s, eventually rising to national president after relocating from Adelaide to Sydney. In April, high-ranking Hells Angels member Jason Fahey was arrested during a raid on his waterfront home in Sydney’s inner west. Fahey, who previously served as the national president of the Bandidos, switched allegiance to the Hells Angels last year.

The Hells Angels are the largest bikie gang globally, with nearly 4,000 members across approximately 475 chapters in over 60 countries.