Summary

• Seeks forfeiture of three Hells Angels clubhouses in Surrey, Mission and Pitt Meadows
• Builds on the previous successful forfeiture of three Hells Angels clubhouses in 2023
• Civil Forfeiture Office puts the proceeds of crime back into B.C. communities through crime prevention grants

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The B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office has filed a claim in B.C. Supreme Court seeking the forfeiture of three Hells Angels clubhouses in an effort to target and undercut organized crime.

“Organized crime has no place in B.C., and our government has been working with focus and resolve to go after gangs and remove the profits of criminal activities,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “As criminals attempt to hide their illegal activities and shield their members from law enforcement, we are finding ways to permanently take away their assets while protecting British Columbians.”

The clubhouses in this claim include the Mission chapter, the Hardside chapter in Surrey and the Haney chapter in Pitt Meadows. These properties are alleged to have been financed and maintained using funds derived from unlawful activity and are alleged to be the proceeds and instruments of crime. Clubhouses are central to the operations of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and successfully forfeiting them would be a major disruption to this criminal organization.

“The partnership between the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit B.C. (CFSEU-BC) and the Civil Forfeiture Office is an essential part of our approach to disrupt those who profit from unlawful activity,” said Manny Mann, assistant commissioner and chief officer, CFSEU-BC. “By combining investigative expertise with civil-forfeiture tools, we are able to remove assets that undermine community safety and redirect them toward prevention and public good. This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay in British Columbia.”  

Devil’s Army litigation

In addition to this action, there is ongoing litigation involving the Devil’s Army clubhouse in Campbell River. The Devil’s Army is a known Hells Angels puppet club. This property is owned by Richard Alexander, a founding member of the Devil’s Army, who was convicted of murder in 2023.

Previously forfeited clubhouses

This latest claim builds on the successful forfeiture of three Hells Angels clubhouses belonging to the Nanaimo chapter, the East End (Vancouver) chapter and the Kelowna chapter in February 2023, which followed more than a decade of legal proceedings. It was the first successful forfeiture of any outlaw motorcycle gang clubhouses in B.C. Since then, these properties have been sold or demolished.

The funds from previous forfeitures and any received from these new claims will go directly toward supporting communities in B.C.

• Since 2006, more than $93 million in civil-forfeiture recoveries has been disbursed as grants supporting community organizations throughout the province.

Learn More:

• Learn more about the Civil Forfeiture Office here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/crime-prevention/civil-forfeiture-office
• Learn more about previous Hells Angels clubhouse forfeitures here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023PSSG0070-001587