Everything we know about Adelaide-born Hells Angels bikie boss Angelo Pandeli, recently detained in Dubai

From his humble childhood in Whyalla to becoming Australia’s most wanted suspected cocaine kingpin, detained Hells Angels bikie Angelo Pandeli has lived an eventful life.

Senior Hells Angels bikie boss Angelo Pandeli has been considered Australia’s most wanted man since 2018 – but his run from the law has come to an end after he was detained in the Middle East.

On Thursday, The Advertiser reported that the Adelaide-born alleged cocaine kingpin, 52, was stopped in Dubai in the past 48 hours.

However, at this stage, little more is known about the detainment of Mr Pandeli and whether he will be charged or how long he will remain in custody.

Here is everything we know about Mr Pandeli.

Angelo Pandeli leaving Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney after appearing on charges of supplying prohibited drugs.

Mr Pandeli, who grew up in Whyalla, has been detained in Dubai.

WHYALLA ROOTS

Pandeli was born in Adelaide to Turkish parents Konstantino and Marika Pandeli, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Shortly after his birth, his publican parents moved to Whyalla and took ownership of the local haunt – The Sundowner Hotel – in the 1970s.

Mr Pandeli’s Whyalla stint ended when he decided to move to Adelaide in the 2000s.

ADELAIDE LIFE

Mr Pandeli found himself working around the city’s night-life scene, including iconic dance club Heaven, while he was still a junior member of the infamous Hells Angels bikie gang.

It was during his years living in Adelaide he met wife Kerry Pandeli, nee McDonough.

It is understood that Mr Pandeli’s involvement in Heaven eventually led to operator John Pike’s licence being revoked.

In November 2006, Mr Pike was reprimanded in the South Australian Licensing Court for hiring Mr Pandeli to “provide security against outlaw motorcycle club members”.

There is no suggestion of any illegal conduct on the part of Mr Pike, who also denied any association with organised crime.

The nightclub paid the Hells Angels member $5000 per week for more than two years, the ABC reported.

In February 2012, the revived Heaven closed its doors for good.

Mr Pandeli is one of Australia’s highest ranking Hells Angels. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO SUSPECTED UNDERWORLD KINGPIN

After his stint in Adelaide, Mr Pandeli moved to Sydney where he became one of the most powerful bikies in the city, setting up the Sydney Hells Angels chapter and becoming a regular at high-end restaurants and Star City casino.

During this time, he took over as the gang’s national president.

He is alleged to be one of the original nine members of what was called the “Aussie cartel” responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of drugs coming down under, operating from bases in Greece and UAE.

At one point, the cartel was believed to be turning over $1.5 billion through drug trafficking routes into the nation’s ports with the help of insiders at the border.

The cartel came undone in 2021, when the AFP revealed it had infiltrated their inner circle through the AN0M app sting where all their messages were read by police.

PANDELI’S ESCAPE FROM AUTHORITIES

Angelo Pandeli with his family in Dubai. Picture: Supplied/Nine

The alleged cocaine kingpin is understood to have fled Australia around 2018, escaping punishment for tax fraud which was blamed on his accountant.

It was alleged that Mr Pandeli failed to lodge tax returns for the 2014-2015 financial year, and ignored a notice from the Australian Taxation Office to submit a detailed income statement.

He was cleared of the charges when his accountant signed an affidavit saying it was his fault.

Mr Pandeli then sold his waterfront Pyrmont home for $8.6 million, which he had purchased in 2006 for about $2 million, and fled the country.

At the time of his detention, Mr Pandeli was wanted by the AFP, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Taxation Office.