Ten members of the Hells Angels were arrested in Langford after a limousine in which they were riding was stopped by West Shore RCMP when the driver was seen using his cellphone.
A loaded gun and suspected drugs were found in the vehicle, RCMP said.
The limo was pulled over about 5 p.m. Saturday on the Trans-Canada Highway near Leigh Road, and RCMP then gathered evidence that led to the arrest of all occupants.
“A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a loaded handgun with several loaded magazines and various suspected drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and other suspected controlled substance in tablet forms,” said RCMP Const. Alex Bérubé. “A detailed report to Crown counsel will be forwarded for consideration of multiple criminal charges.”
The 10 people, four associate members and six full-patch members of the motorcycle club, were taken into custody but later released. Three have been ordered to appear in court on Aug. 10.
Bikers gathered on Vancouver Island last weekend for the annual ride in memory of Michael (Zeke) Mickle, the Nanaimo Hells Angels president who disappeared in 1993 and is presumed dead.
“Without being able to mention who are facing charges, I can say the full-patch Hells Angels were from the Nanaimo and Kelowna chapters,” Bérubé said. “Significant resources were deployed in the incident, including the West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, traffic section, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. and air support to monitor this … motorcycle ride.”
West Shore Mounties were involved in a recent investigation into the death of Sooke resident Mike Widner that also resulted in a memorial ride.
Widner, a Hells Angels prospect, was found dead on March 12 near Port Renfrew, the result of what police say was a targeted killing. On April 1, about 100 bikers, many sporting Hells Angels logos, rolled into Langford to gather at the clubhouse of the Langford Devils Army.
The bikers arrived in small groups on motorcycles and in limousines with plenty of advance warning, and no problems were reported by police.
The death of Widner, a 39-year-old husband and father, is being investigated by the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit.
