HAMILTON, Ontario, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Seven suspected members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang were arrested in raids in three communities west of Toronto Tuesday, police said.
Six police forces cooperated with the Ontario Provincial Police biker enforcement unit in nine pre-dawn raids in Hamilton, Waterloo and Nanticoke, the Hamilton Spectator reported.
Brian Parrish, who lives next to one of the Hamilton houses raided, said the flash grenade officers used to enter the house frightened him.
"I thought my truck had blown up," he said.
An OPP statement said drugs, vehicles and property seized in the raids was worth $875,000, the Spectator said.
The men arrested initially face a number of drug-related charges, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said.
OPP Superintendent Dan Redmond said in a statement "gangs are not welcome in our communities,"
"Despite their rhetoric that they are motorcycle enthusiasts, our enforcement initiatives make it clear that the Hells Angels are involved in drugs, weapons, and violence related offenses," Redmond said.
