Former Hells Angels Bikie Angelo Pandeli Arrested in Bali, Later Deported to Australia

#gridsparta #bikies #hellsangelsmc Former Sydney Hells Angels boss Angelo Pandeli has been arrested in Bali after allegedly attempting to leave Indonesia on a private jet using a fake Brazilian passport. The 55-year-old was detained on Saturday night while trying to board a private flight bound for Mozambique. Indonesian immigration officials said they became suspicious during clearance checks when a passenger travelling under the name “GAM” presented a Brazilian passport. Authorities later found the man had no record of entering Indonesia and no valid visa or stay permit. While the other three passengers were initially cleared, officials detained Pandeli for further questioning. Before questioning could take place, Indonesian authorities said all four passengers reboarded the aircraft without permission and attempted to depart. The plane was forced back, and officers searched it, finding Pandeli hiding in the aircraft toilet while the others remained in the cabin. Investigators later confirmed the Brazilian passport was counterfeit and identified the man as Angelo Pandeli, an Australian citizen originally from Whyalla in South Australia. Pandeli left Australia in 2018 shortly before police executed a search warrant on his Pyrmont home as part of an investigation into an alleged $250 million drug trafficking operation. Although he was never charged, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission alleged in 2021 that he was linked to the so called “Aussie Cartel”, believed to be involved in major drug importation routes into Australia run by offshore fugitives. In 2024, Pandeli was deported from Dubai back to Australia but again faced no criminal charges. Since then, his whereabouts had largely been unknown, with reports suggesting law enforcement had lost track of him. Indonesian officials said Pandeli was travelling with a Brazilian, Italian, and Portuguese national at the time of his arrest and stated he was the subject of an Interpol notice. Authorities described him as an influential figure within a transnational serious organised crime network and a prominent member of the Hells Angels. They also claimed Australian Federal Police intelligence linked him to large scale drug importation operations and alleged he had spent years evading law enforcement. Officials believe he attempted to leave the region using fraudulent travel documents in order to avoid detection and continue operating outside Australia. Following his arrest, Pandeli was deported after a request from the Australian Embassy. He was flown to Adelaide on Wednesday on an AirAsia flight and has been permanently banned from entering Indonesia. Despite the allegations, Pandeli has not been charged with any offences in Australia and no wrongdoing has been alleged against him. The Australian Federal Police said they are aware of his deportation and continue to liaise with Indonesian authorities and partner agencies regarding his travel and detention. The AFP also thanked Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration and the Indonesian National Police for their assistance. The last time Pandeli appeared in the news was when he settled a defamation lawsuit against several News Corp publications, ending one of Australia’s first major defamation cases of 2025. He had taken action in late 2024 against the Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph, and The Advertiser over articles, podcasts, and videos published by the outlets. Four months later, the matter was resolved, with his lawyer saying it was settled to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. As part of the agreement, the publishers removed the contested material. The case had been set for a further Federal Court hearing on March 24, but court orders on March 20 confirmed it had been discontinued on confidential terms, with no costs orders made. After his deportation from Bali, Pandeli is believed to be in Adelaide. There have been no further updates from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, or South Australia Police, and it is understood he has not been charged with any offences. Follow Grid Sparta on Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GridSparta Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GridSparta Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/GridSparta Reditt: https://www.reddit.com/r/Gridsparta