Dutch, German police arrest Bandidos bikers

3 March 2004

AMSTERDAM — Dutch and German police have carried out raids on members of the motorcycle club Bandidos, arresting 22 people in eight German cities and a leader of the gang in the Dutch city Kerkrade on Wednesday morning.

The suspects are alleged to have been involved in the smuggling of a large amount of drugs across the southern Dutch-German border near the German city Achen, news agency ANP reported.

One of the leaders of the gang, a Dutch national, was arrested in Kerkrade along with two other gang members.

The second leader was arrested in Denmark on Sunday and the Dutch prosecution office said the 26 arrests had busted a “complete motorcycle gang”.

Achen police said a specialist Dutch police unit was called in to carry out the arrests in Kerkrade based on concerns the suspects could have been armed.

German police were assisted in investigations by Dutch authorities. About 300 officers were involved in raids on about 60 homes and clubhouses in Germany, seizing drugs, weapons and cash. The raids were conducted in co-operation with Dutch prosecutors.

Rivalry between the Bandidos and Hells Angels has frequently led to clashes in Scandinavia and the US in recent years, and on occasions firearms and rocket launchers have been used in attacks.

German police could not confirm if the raids were connected to the murder of three Hells Angels gang members whose bodies were found floating in a stream in the southern Dutch town of Echt last month.

Police are searching for a fourth man seen with the three victims on the night they disappeared, but have previously ruled out a gang war.

Subject: Dutch and German news