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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
With the Hells Angels Biker Gang was established in California in 1948. In 2023 there are around 6,000 fully patched members making the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) the largest outlaw motorcycle gang in the world. U.S. law enforcement authorities estimate that the Hells Angels have more than 92 chapters in 27 states with a membership of over 800 persons. The Hells Angels are involved in the production, transportation, and distribution of marijuana and methamphetamine. Additionally, the Hells Angels are involved in the transportation and distribution of cocaine, hashish, heroin, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), ecstasy, PCP (phencyclidine), and diverted pharmaceuticals. The Hells Angels are also involved in other criminal activity including assault, extortion, homicide, money laundering, and motorcycle theft. Many of these activities are joint efforts with other Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG's).
Co-offending network of Hells Angels MC, Bandidos MC, and multiple member collaborations
Co-offending network of Hells Angels MC, Bandidos MC, and multiple member collaborations
This figure shows the co-offending network of the Hells Angels MC, Bandidos MC, and multiple members involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs between 2011 and 2016.
Each node is colored by group membership. Color key: red: Bandidos MC full members (n = 805), magenta: Bandidos MC satellite members (n = 373), blue: Hells Angels MC full members (n = 334), cyan: Hells Angels MC satellite members (n = 478), and green: multiple members (n = 397).
The figure can tell us that the network is composed of multiple fragments. The largest, component, comprises 469 nodes (19.6%) but at the same time concentrates 1,174. (72.0%) of the links in the network. This means that the majority of the criminal collaborations between the Hells Angels have occurred in the giant component in the center.
Criminal Business Analysis Matrix
Criminal Business Analysis Matrix
This figure shows the Crime Business Analysis Matrix (CBAM), a tool that assesses the entrepreneurial capabilities and business phases of a criminal organization, to evaluate the HAMC’s performance and characteristics. This is an analysis of the Montreal chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC), a notorious outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) in Canada, from 1995 to 2010. Findings show that the HAMC was a highly structured, violent, and profitable crime business that had a dominant influence in Quebec’s illegal drug trade, especially in cocaine and cannabis markets. The HAMC also had criminal and legitimate connections with various Mafia groups and other influential people. However, the HAMC’s strength was severely diminished by targeted law enforcement efforts that led to the arrest and imprisonment of many of its members, including its former leader Maurice “Mom” Boucher.
Crime Offenses of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
The study explores criminal collaboration patterns among three groups - HAMC, RWC, and RDMC. While HAMC and RWC share similar offense types like "Alcohol, Drugs, and Firearms," "Theft and Robbery," and "Assault," HAMC is more involved in "White Collar Crime." Normalizing for network size, HAMC's patterns become closer to RWC. RWC is more active in street-oriented crimes, whereas HAMC is diverse with high white-collar crime involvement. RDMC is an intermediate case, displaying a varied criminal activity pattern.
Intelligence Gaps
In drug transportation, are they associated with any cartels since they are internationally based?
What legitimate business do the Hells Angels operate out of?
What other Outlaw motorcycle gang do they share ties with in terms of business that isn't adversarial?
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