The 3-day international meeting of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in Drepano Igoumenitsa, which was in the spotlight today, on the one hand because of the increased police alert and on the other hand because of the economic upturn for the region.
Many of the thousands of riders will continue their holidays in Greece, but a German man who was arrested at the port of Igoumenitsa because a European arrest warrant from the Polish authorities was pending against him is being kept behind guard at a hospital in Ioannina, as he suffered a stroke while in custody.
Accidental check on the arrival of members of the motorcycle club, at the port of Igoumenitsa, saw three German men arrested as two of them were found in possession of knives. A European warrant was pending against the third arrested man for abandonment of a car accident victim in which he had been involved in Poland. This particular arrested man, by order of the Corfu Prosecutor of the Corfu Court of Appeal, is being held in custody until a decision is made regarding his extradition to Poland.
But the German rider suffered a stroke yesterday afternoon, while in custody in Corfu, and was transferred to the island’s hospital first and then to the Hatzikosta Hospital in Ioannina where he is under guard.
It should be noted that four arrests were also made at the border station of Premahona, as a knife and an iron fist were found in the luggage of motorcyclists.
At 7 yesterday evening, various events were held in Drepano, followed by a concert, which ended with dozens of fireworks.
On the streets of Igoumenitsa , since the early hours of Friday morning, the motorized marches, the noise of the exhausts or the music that can be heard as the very expensive motorcycles cross the streets, makes the city live to the rhythms of the Hells Angels.
The international meeting of members of the club or the brotherhood, as the Hells Angels call themselves, is being held for the second time on the beach of Drepano, just 4km from the town of Igoumenitsa.
The meeting is organised by the Greek branch based in Patras. More than 2000 motorcycles and about 5000 riders – members of the club, arrived in Igoumenitsa, either by ferry from Italy, or by road from Northern Greece, and even by air from distant Latin America or Africa. The previous meeting was held in 2015. According to some German riders, with whom we had the opportunity to talk, but they did not allow us to photograph them, the area is characterized as hospitable to the club, which is why they chose it again as the destination of their meeting.
A large welcome brothers banner greets them on the shore of Drepano where the arrival point is. The area is fenced off, and there is also a security team for the event. At the entrance, the officials identify the participation of those who arrive , to enter the site.
The riders arrived in Igoumenitsa, in groups, depending on the country or city where they live. Some have their companions with them, while others wander around alone.
Tattoos and leather vests or jackets are another of their common features. On the leathers we read the name of their place, the branch essentially of the club, and see symbols that express each one.
The international motorcycle club, Hells Angels, is described as controversial, yet in the area businessmen who come into direct contact with them speak of noble people who leave “a lot of money in the place”. These are typical, the words of a hotelier to the APE-MPA, while similar comments are made by businessmen in the restaurant business. They prefer more, as they told us, the barbecues and Greek salad, but less the fish taverns, although the area is seaside.
Their motorbikes are moving, expensive “jewels” that roam the streets from Igoumenitsa to Parga, Preveza and even Corfu.
Among the thousands of male riders I can see a few women riding motorcycles.All members have the same brand of motorcycle and as they told us they ride all over the world, because it is their way of life.
The meeting also hid a surprise. A rider from Cyprus chose the beach of Drepano and the sunset to marry his beloved.
The international meeting in Drepano put the security authorities on high alert. In Igoumenitsa, the police force was reinforced with Greek FBI men from Athens and Thessaloniki.
