NETHERLANDS - Some 60 investigations into motorbike gxxgs under way: minister

OFF THE WIRE
Justice ministry efforts to clamp down on motorcycle gxxgs are paying off and some 60 investigations into gang-related crime are now under way, justice minister Ivo Opstelten has said in a written briefing to MPs.

At the beginning of this year, there were some 40 ongoing public prosecution department investigations into crime involving motorbike gxxgs such as the Hells Angels and Moluccan bike gang Satudarah.

Opstelten said at the beginning of this year the police and justice ministry officials were to launch an offensive against 'outlaw bikers' involved in extortion, violence and trading in drugs and weapons. Gxxg clubhouses, where 'normal rules in society' did not apply would also be tackled, the minister said.

Since then, club houses have been shut down in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Enschede.

The public prosecution department has made several efforts to make Hells Angels chapters ruled illegal but the cases did not stand up in court.

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