What is The Hells Angels? Cops seize cocaine, guns and biker vests in massive crackdown against trafficking network allegedly linked to the ‘outlaw’ biker gang

In a massive crackdown against organized crime groups, police in Quebec and New Brunswick seized large quantities of drugs, cash, weapons, and accessories of a biker gang as part of an operation targeting a suspected cocaine-trafficking network allegedly linked to the Hells Angels biker gang.

According to CTV News, investigators claimed that the wide-ranging operation led to the seizure of 15 kilograms of cocaine, more than $564,000 in cash, more than 50 cell phones, silver bars worth around $5,000, and multiple weapons and protective gear.

Police call searches ‘vast operation’

The search, dubbed “Vast Operation” by police, was carried out by investigators from several police forces along with sniffer dogs who dispersed in Quebec and in New Brunswick. Besides weapons, cash, and cocaine, authorities also recovered several other items.


These items included several vests bearing biker gang insignia, including those marked “Prospect HA Nomads, NB,” “Street Soldiers North Shore,” “Prospect HA TR,” and “Red Devils Maritimes,” according to CTV News. Police also seized seven long guns, two handguns, two bulletproof vests, three tasers, and approximately 500 THC vapes.

Briefing about the large search operation, which, according to police, was part of an investigation that began more than two years ago, Sergeant Louis-Philippe Ruel said, “We had this organization that was pretty involved in cocaine trafficking pretty much everywhere in Quebec and New Brunswick.”

“We have officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), RCMP, and several municipal police forces taking part in the raids.”

National Organized Crime Enforcement Squad leads operation

The massive search operation, which was led by the National Organized Crime Enforcement Squad, included more than 160 officers from multiple police forces and searched 17 residences and 17 vehicles in the two provinces, according to CBC News.

At least 17 search warrants targeting homes and another 17 targeting vehicles were issued during the intense search, CTV News reported.

No arrests were planned

It is pertinent to note that no arrests were planned during this phase; however, officers stated that it represents one step in an ongoing and extensive probe.

According to investigators, the groups targeted have links to the Hells Angels biker gang and are being investigated for their role in a broader cocaine trafficking network, CTV News.

What is the Hells Angels

Hells Angels is a club for motorcyclists. It was founded in California in 1948 and is probably the best known of the so-called “outlaw motorcycle gangs,” according to Britannica. The club has been accused of criminal activity by law enforcement officials.

The groups that are under police suspicion are also being examined to determine whether they were used to “plant a flag” on behalf of the Hells Angels in certain regions to prevent rival gangs from moving into their territory, according to CTV News.

The presence of Hells Angels in Quebec dates back to the 1970s, but their dominance in the province’s organized crime world has been challenged by other groups in recent years. CTV News reported that, from 1994 to 2002, violent conflicts between Quebec biker gangs Hells Angels and Rock Machine led to 162 deaths.