Norwegian police detain 27 at motorcycle club gathering linked to banned group

Norwegian police detained 27 people during an operation targeting an event connected to Comanches MC, a group authorities consider an extension of the banned Satudarah MC motorcycle club, Dagbladet reports.

The operation took place Saturday in Oslo, where participants from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark—men aged between their early 20s and 50s—had gathered. Police confiscated various Comanches-branded items as part of the ongoing investigation.

According to Phillip Green, a police prosecutor with Oslo Police District, authorities will assess over the weekend whether to seek pretrial detention for any of the detainees, with potential custody hearings starting no earlier than Monday. Foreign participants may also face deportation proceedings.

Green stated that Comanches MC is viewed as a continuation of Satudarah MC, which Norway’s Supreme Court banned in 2024 for repeated serious criminal activity. “All activity linked to Comanches is therefore considered illegal,” he said, adding that the operation aimed to prevent the group from establishing itself in Norway.

The prosecutor confirmed that the detentions proceeded without incident and that most individuals would likely be released once evidence was secured. However, some cases require further review. Norwegian police are collaborating with Danish and Swedish counterparts in the effort.

Ten individuals, aged 25 to 53, are already indicted for allegedly sustaining the banned Satudarah MC through Comanches MC membership. Their trial, centered on charges including possession of club paraphernalia, attendance at meetings, and promotion of symbols on social media, is scheduled for June 9.