Although these associations are legal, some of them obtain their income from drugs, prostitution and extortion.
Hell’s Angels (HAMC), Bandits, Gremium, No Surrender, Satudarah, Outlaws, Comanchero… These are the motorcycle gangs that increasingly have more “chapters” (sections) in Spain and that, although with apparently legal activities, they earn their income from drugs, prostitution and extortion.
Called “outlaws” or “1%,” these violent groupsoriginating in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and even Australia, have been deployed in a good number of countries, including Spain, and, according to EFE sources from the Civil Guard Information Service, are going through a phase of “expansion” with a common objective: to seize the territory.
The trial held a few weeks ago at the National Court against the Hell’s Angels for crimes committed between 2009 and 2013 and the recent coup by the Civil Guard and the National Police against the “chapter” of the “Comanchero MC” gang, which resulted in five detainees in towns in the province of Guadalajara, are a faithful reflection of his presence in Spain, which does not go unnoticed by the security forces.
Where they are located? The sources consulted indicate Madrid and its area of influence; Catalonia, the Levantthe Costa del Sol, Seville, Cádiz and Asturias as the areas chosen by these groups to settle.
And these same sources highlight its “violent” character, to the point that They do not hesitate to settle their differences -especially over control of the territory- in a “forceful way”. Thus, fights between “chapters” of the Hell’s Angels (HAMC) and the Outlaws, for example, are common. Although, they try to be discreet when carrying out these reprisals, in order to go unnoticed by the security forces.
It is also notable the rivalry between the HAMC, the “best situated” gang in Spain, and Gremium, that has sometimes ended in assaults on the Club Houses in which other biker groups have participated.
Other times they have come to “subscribe” a non-aggression pact, like the one “signed” by the HAMC and Bandidos (the second gang in Spain by implantation) to cease hostilities. An obligatory agreement for everyone, even for “guests” from other countries.
“Legal” businesses to cover up illegal ones
Do these clubs constitute an illicit association? The National Court could answer this question in its judgment of the HAMC trial.
But, for now, these are groups that earn their income from “apparently legal” businesses and with whom they cover their expenses, such as the rents of its Club Houses, its legal defense, the purchase of merchandising or attendance at international events, among others.
Among those “legal” businesses, where they launder the capital obtained from illegal activities, the workshops specialized in vehicle customization, tattoo centers, conventions and organization of concerts and events sports, mainly martial arts and motorcycles, among others.
And the money that is later laundered in those businesses comes from their main sources of income: prostitution -security for hostess and pimping clubs, among other activities-, drug trafficking and extortion.
Without reaching the level of organizations in northern Europe, with close ties to drug cartels in Mexico or Colombia, the biker gangs in Spain occupy an intermediate level in drug trafficking and They are dedicated, above all, to logistics: drug nurseries and transport, generally in “heated” trucks or cars.
Another means of obtaining income is extortion. Civil Guard investigators cite EFE the extortion of an owner of a tattoo parlor whom they considered direct competition. Either I paid a fee to the band or it closed. Otherwise, they would not give you security and, perhaps, they could even destroy your business.
An iron hierarchy
It’s not easy to get into the band, but it’s not easy to get out of it either. They have a strong, highly hierarchical structure and any of its “chapters” is headed by a democratically elected board of directors by club members.
LThe board is made up of a president, vice president, secretary-treasurersergeant-at-arms (a kind of head of the military apparatus) and the road captain, who guides the group when they go on a trip, in a motorbike caravan that is always led by the president.
The rest of the club is formed by the “full members” (full members) and to whose status they do not access without having previously done various tasks for the benefit of the band. Subjected 24 hours a day to group discipline, they risk reprisals for breaking the rules.
Some “chapters” also have “nomadic” memberswithout fixed residence and, sometimes, in charge of the most serious actions.
On a lower step are the “prospects”, applicants to enter the club who have to demonstrate their commitment to it first. They need to have a sponsor within the band and demonstrate that they are capable of carrying out criminal actions. They spend time “on probation” until they are accepted as “full members”, but not before taking an oath of absolute loyalty.
Although they are not full members, the “supporters” or friends of the club They are regulars at events organized by the band and, in many cases, support it financially.
Women
Only occasionally are women admitted to these clubs, but they never access positions on the board. Of course, the president’s girlfriend or wife can attend the meetings of the governing body as an observer.
Nevertheless, there are exclusively female “chapters” that repeat the structure and positions of the masculine ones.
An untouchable outfit
Almost all the biker gangs have a particular outfit, which includes vests with representative patches of the club and that no one outside can touch or use.
In general, the clothing of these groups follows a similar pattern: boots, jeans or leather pants, leather jackets, vests, motorcycle gloves, helmets, dark sunglasses and accessory chains. Tattoos, beards and long hair are also common.
Many times the tattoo and the patches on the vests reflect the hierarchical position within the club of who wears them.
Also they wear patches as decorations for that member’s participation in a violent action. Thus, the Filthy Few or Frontline patch recognizes, in bands like the Hell’s Angels or Bandidos, who he has committed a murder for the benefit of the band. Meanwhile, the Dequiallo is awarded for fighting against the Police.