Alleged bikie Rodrigo Elices goes viral on TikTok for ‘winking’ at passengers as he’s flown to Sydney in handcuffs

Footage of Rodrigo Elices, 32, returning to Australia surrounded by police after he was extradited from Thailand, has been watched almost 9 million times on TikTok.

An alleged Hells Angels bikie has been extradited from Thailand but not before going viral on TikTok after a fellow passenger on his flight shared video of him “winking” at her as he sat handcuffed to his seat.

Footage of Rodrigo Elices, 32, returning to Australia surrounded police on a flight from Manila has been watched almost 9 million times since being posted to social media on Saturday.

But while on the trip he was reportedly “winking and smiling” at fellow passengers, now back home he faces 55 drug and firearm charges.

Rodrigo Elices, 32, has gone viral after video of his extradition from Thailand to Australia was posted on TikTok.

NSW Police had been hunting for Elices across four countries ever since they allege he flew to Thailand on a fake passport in 2022.

Elices had been detained by Thai authorities – who alleged he was a Hells Angels OMCG member – last year and spent 11 months in prison over immigration offences, before being given a royal pardon last month.

But instead of returning to Australia as required, police allege Elices attempted to avoid authorities and fly to Istanbul, Turkey via Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Elices allegedly left Australia on a fake passport in 2022, but now back in NSW is facing 55 drug and firearm charges following a two-year investigation by the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad. Picture: NSW Police

With the assistance of the AFP, Elices’ entry into Lebanon was blocked, before separate alleged attempts to travel to Lebanon and Taiwan failed.

Raptor Squad Commander Andrew Koutsoufis said now back in NSW, police would allege Elices was involved in a cocaine ring detectives began investigating in 2022.

“Our concerted efforts with the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police ensure that individuals (allegedly) involved in serious drug and firearm offences will be apprehended, no matter where they attempt to hide,” Detective Superintendent Koutsoufis said.

“The message is clear: there are no places beyond the grasp of the Raptor Squad when it comes to safeguarding our communities from the scourge of illegal drugs and firearms.”

Elices flew from Manila to Melbourne, before being flown to Sydney where he is next due in court on Tuesday, December 3. Picture: NSW Police

Elices was charged with 55 offences relating to a search warrant carried out in Kensington, Sydney, on December 15, 2022.

During that search police allegedly located and seized 11 firearms, ammunition, ballistic vests, nearly 4kg of GBL, 282 grams of MDMA and 409g of methylamphetamine.

Elices faced Parramatta Local Court on Sunday where he was represented by solicitor Abdul Tlais who made no application for bail, and it was officially refused, until Elices returns to face the Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.

Originally published as Alleged bikie Rodrigo Elices goes viral on TikTok for ‘winking’ at passengers as he’s flown to Sydney in handcuffs