Fugitive accused of 22 Hells Angels murders nabbed in Panama
Michel "L'animal" Smith, 49, has been sought since 2009 on charges that include murder, gangsterism, drug trafficking and conspiracy. Police in Canada said Sunday morning they could not confirm media reports that he had been arrested Friday, March 9, 2012, in Panama on Friday.
Officials from the Surete du Quebec and RCMP said Sunday morning that they were not immediately able to confirm or deny media reports that Michel Smith, a Quebecer sought since 2009 for a multitude of Quebec murders, has been arrested by authorities in Panama.
According to the RCMP, Smith is a member of the South Chapter of the Hells Angels and goes by the nickname "L'animal." He has been on the run since 2009 in connection with a police crackdown on the Hells Angels biker gang.
He faces 29 criminal charges - including 22 murder charges.
Citing Panamanian local media and Agence France-Presse, the QMI news agency reported that Smith, 49, had been detained by police Friday evening in the Playa Coronado region, on the Pacific Ocean coast of the Central American nation.
A Canada-wide warrant issued by the RCMP said he was being sought for murder, gangsterism, drug trafficking and related conspiracy charges.
His Central American connections were known to authorities.
"Smith is likely to visit Panama and speaks French," the warrant stated.
Const. Erique Gasse of the RCMP's C Division in Montreal said he had relayed a request for official word on Smith's status to RCMP officials in Ottawa, who did not immediately return a phone call.
Asked for confirmation of the arrest report, Surete du Quebec spokesperson Sgt. Christine Coulombe said: "I have no information on this."
Smith is "considered to be violent," according to the warrant.
Aside from "L'animal," his aliases have included Mike Smith-Lajoie, Michel Lajoie-Smit and Michel Lajoie.
The warrant describes Smith as 172 centimetres tall and weighing 95 kilograms, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Read more: Fugitive accused of 22 Hells Angels murders nabbed in Panama
Michel "L'animal" Smith, 49, has been sought since 2009 on charges that include murder, gangsterism, drug trafficking and conspiracy. Police in Canada said Sunday morning they could not confirm media reports that he had been arrested Friday, March 9, 2012, in Panama on Friday.
Officials from the Surete du Quebec and RCMP said Sunday morning that they were not immediately able to confirm or deny media reports that Michel Smith, a Quebecer sought since 2009 for a multitude of Quebec murders, has been arrested by authorities in Panama.
According to the RCMP, Smith is a member of the South Chapter of the Hells Angels and goes by the nickname "L'animal." He has been on the run since 2009 in connection with a police crackdown on the Hells Angels biker gang.
He faces 29 criminal charges - including 22 murder charges.
Citing Panamanian local media and Agence France-Presse, the QMI news agency reported that Smith, 49, had been detained by police Friday evening in the Playa Coronado region, on the Pacific Ocean coast of the Central American nation.
A Canada-wide warrant issued by the RCMP said he was being sought for murder, gangsterism, drug trafficking and related conspiracy charges.
His Central American connections were known to authorities.
"Smith is likely to visit Panama and speaks French," the warrant stated.
Const. Erique Gasse of the RCMP's C Division in Montreal said he had relayed a request for official word on Smith's status to RCMP officials in Ottawa, who did not immediately return a phone call.
Asked for confirmation of the arrest report, Surete du Quebec spokesperson Sgt. Christine Coulombe said: "I have no information on this."
Smith is "considered to be violent," according to the warrant.
Aside from "L'animal," his aliases have included Mike Smith-Lajoie, Michel Lajoie-Smit and Michel Lajoie.
The warrant describes Smith as 172 centimetres tall and weighing 95 kilograms, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Read more: Fugitive accused of 22 Hells Angels murders nabbed in Panama