3 Hells Angels members from NZ barred entry into PH

Three New Zealand citizens and members of the Hells Angels were denied entry to the Philippines over their alleged links to an international criminal organization, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

According to BI, two of the passengers arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on February 7 onboard a China Southern flight from Guangzhou, China. The other arrived on a similar flight on February 9.

Immigration authorities said the foreigners were subjected to verification after registering a hit in the Interpol system.

Further confirmation showed that all were subjects of a diffusion notice involving a criminal organization. They were found to have multiple prior convictions in various countries and were identified as members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC), an outlaw motorcycle gang monitored internationally for its alleged involvement in organized criminal activities.

They were excluded and denied entry to the country.

“We are closely coordinating with INTERPOL and our international counterparts to ensure that individuals linked to organized crime are detected and stopped at our borders,” BI Commissioner Joel Viado said.

“In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen border security and intensify the campaign against transnational crime, the Bureau remains relentless in protecting our ports of entry from high-risk individuals,” Viado added. —Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News