Australia’s most wanted man, senior Hells Angel Angelo Pandeli, believed detained in Dubai

Senior Hells Angel Angelo Pandeli — regarded as Australia’s most wanted man — has been detained in Dubai. It’s believed the accused international drug kingpin was headed to Cancun in Mexico.

Senior Hells Angel Angelo Pandeli — regarded as Australia’s most wanted man — has been detained in the Middle East.

The Herald Sun understands the 52-year-old accused international drug kingpin was picked up in the desert city of Dubai in the past 24 hours.

Little detail is known and it is unclear whether the Australian expat has been charged or will be held.

Pandeli is regarded as a global player on the drug scene and as one of the biggest players in Australia’s cocaine and methamphetamine importation sphere.

Angelo Pandeli at a Sydney court. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu.

He left Australia in 2018 and has gravitated between the Middle-East, Europe and Asia.

Despite his absence, Pandeli has for years been the subject of intense interest from Australian law enforcement agencies.

He is one of a legion of top level Australian organised crime figures who have settled in Dubai in the past decade.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission said in 2021 that Pandeli was part of a massive syndicate which was bringing drugs worth $1.5 billion into Australia each year.

Crooked government and border officials they worked with were allegedly instrumental in those shipments on behalf of what authorities called the “Aussie Cartel”.

Pandeli is known for having been able to help bring together leaders of different gangs to do business together with Dubai as a base.

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

He grew up in the South Australian coastal town of Whyalla and became a Hells Angel in the 2000s after moving to Adelaide.

Pandeli later moved to Sydney and headed up the City Crew chapter.

He would become national president and his luxury home was raided in 2018 over suspicions of links to a botched plot to bring $250 million worth of ice to Australia in a light plane.

Pandeli was able to establish a sprawling criminal network before getting out of the country.

Victoria Police intelligence reports have shown he was observed meeting with a major Melbourne underworld figure at Star City Casino in 2011.

He would later massively broaden his connections overseas and is reported to have gained even more power as some major expat players were arrested in recent years.

The Herald Sun this week revealed it was expected he would be travelling to Mexico within days for a major Hells Angels gathering in the coastal resort town of Cancun.

Originally published as Australia’s most wanted man, senior Hells Angel Angelo Pandeli, believed detained in Dubai