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Coskun Necati Arabaci, the ringleader of the organized crime group Hells Angels, was detained in Türkiye's Izmir, according to media reports on Tuesday.
Arabaci, who was arrested in Slovakia on Sept. 9, 2025, and later released on the condition that he leave the country, was taken into custody at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport upon arrival from Belgrade, Serbia, on Oct. 5.
The Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that “a one-day detention extension has been granted for the suspect Coskun Necati Arabaci, who was detained at Adnan Menderes Airport in Gaziemir district of Izmir on Oct. 5, 2025, on charges of ‘establishing an organization to commit crimes’ and ‘aggravated extortion.’”
Arabaci was apprehended by the Organized Crime Unit of the Provincial Police Department, and his interrogation is ongoing.
He is expected to be referred to court after the completion of police procedures.
Born in Cologne, Germany, in 1972 to a family of Turkish origin, Arabaci first came under German authorities’ scrutiny in the 1990s.
He rose to prominence in Cologne’s red-light district through alleged connections with security guards affiliated with the Hells Angels motorcycle club.
During that period, Arabaci reportedly amassed significant wealth through brothels, including “Babylon” in Elsdorf near Cologne and “Wiago” in Leverkusen, as well as establishments in Mallorca.
German media reported that he owned several brothels through front companies, expanding his influence to Frankfurt and the Ruhr region.
In 2002, Arabaci was arrested, and in 2004, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for leading a criminal organization, human trafficking, forced prostitution, and robbery.
While imprisoned in Bochum, he was suspected of plotting to assassinate the prosecutor handling his case, but the allegations were not pursued due to a lack of evidence.
After serving one-third of his sentence, he was deported to Türkiye in 2007 on the condition that he not return to Germany.
Following his deportation, Arabaci opened entertainment venues in tourist destinations, including Cesme, Bodrum, and Kusadasi.
His name was later linked to multiple crimes in Frankfurt and Cologne. He was also detained in 2020 in connection with a murder case in Bodrum, but was released after serving time.
Despite his deportation, his influence in Germany continued. By 2010, he had become the president of “Hells Angels MC Nomads Türkiye,” reportedly expanding his network across Europe through brothels and alleged drug trafficking.
Security forces suspect Arabaci accumulated vast wealth through heroin smuggling from South America.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, founded in 1948 and operating in 32 countries, has long been associated with organized crime and was banned in the Netherlands.
Arabaci is considered among the top figures of the Hells Angels network in Europe.
In 2015, an EU-wide arrest warrant was issued for Arabaci. He was detained in Türkiye in 2018 but later released due to insufficient evidence.
In 2023, Arabaci attended the circumcision ceremony of the son of crime boss Ayhan Bora Kaplan, who was sentenced to 68 years in prison for leading an armed criminal organization and other offenses.
Arabaci was reportedly seen gifting a gold chain adorned with multiple gold pieces to Kaplan’s son.
His most recent arrest in Slovakia followed a notice issued by German authorities through the Schengen Information System in August.
After providing a statement, he was released on the condition that he leave Slovakia within 30 days.
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