- Australian arrested in Thailand by immigration
- They claim he flew in on a private jet with a fake ID
- Claim to be a Hells Angel lead in the drug investigation
- Do you know more? Kevin.Airs@mailonline.com
- READ MORE: Travelers’ angry rant about holiday hotspot lies
A suspected Australian motorcycle chef has been arrested at a luxury apartment after flying to Thailand on a private jet, allegedly using a fake Italian passport.
Rodrigo Elices, 31, also known as Elias, was arrested after he fled into Bangkok on December 6, 2023 with a fake ID and a 30-day tourist visa.
Elices claimed to be an Italian named Gjini, Thai immigration authorities allege, but a fingerprint check revealed he was allegedly an Australian motorcyclist at the center of a drug ring.
Immigration officials traced him to an upscale apartment building in Bangkok’s hip ThongLor district, where he was subsequently arrested.
Thai investigators said Australian police told them Elices was believed to be a key player in a Hells Angels drug smuggling network and would be charged with importing 14kg of methamphetamine.
Elices was also hunted by police after a house in Kogarah was set on fire in October 2022, seriously burning a 51-year-old man and reportedly uncovering a drug ring.
Suspected Australian Hells Angels leader Rodrigo Elices (pictured center) has been arrested in a luxury unit after flying to Thailand on a private jet, allegedly using a fake Italian passport
Rodrigo Elices (pictured center) claimed to be an Italian named Gjini, Thai immigration authorities say, but a fingerprint check revealed he was an Australian motorcyclist at the center of a drug ring
Inside the home, detectives found 5.7 kg of cocaine, $15,000 in cash and drug production equipment. The injured man and two others were charged with drug crimes, police said Sydney Morning Herald.
But Elices is said to have fled the country before detectives could arrest him.
Elices’ arrest was paraded in front of the Thai media at a press conference by immigration officials who released shirtless photos of the Australian being questioned by officials.
He was shown in handcuffs as investigators questioned him about his alleged ties to drug syndicates and the alleged fake passport he used to flee to Thailand, and photographed surrounded by the immigration officers who arrested him.
An extensive infographic also detailed the immigration investigation that allegedly exposed the fake Italian as an Australian Hells Angel motorcycle.
“Elices remains a major suspect in Australia who is the (alleged) leader of the Hells Angels gang, which is (allegedly) a drug distribution network,” said Police Major General Phanthana Nuchanart, deputy commander-in-chief of the Immigration Bureau .
He is reportedly wanted for drug and firearms smuggling with an arrest warrant for 38 charges, including 36 weapons charges, one charge relating to the 14kg of meth and one charge of participating in a transnational criminal organization.
“He also has a criminal history of assaulting public officials and theft,” the commander-in-chief alleged.
“The investigation team investigated until they learned that Elices had (allegedly) fled to live in a luxury apartment in the ThongLor area.
“They called in troops and went to arrest Elices and upon inspection of the room they (allegedly) found Elices’ Australian passport and Gjini’s Italian passport.”
Rodrigo Elices (pictured sitting) was photographed surrounded by the immigration officers who arrested him, along with the two passports they allegedly found in his possession
An extensive infogram also detailed the immigration investigation where the fake Italian was allegedly exposed as an Australian Hells Angel motorcycle.
It is clear that the same man was depicted in both passports.
Major General Nuchanart added: “The Australian police are coordinating with the Thai police, so he was (allegedly) always trying to escape.”
Elices has been held in custody awaiting trial on the Thai immigration charges before being deported to fly back to Australia.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
NSW Police said they had no details of the overseas arrest and the Australian Federal Police referred all questions to DFAT.
Do you know more? Kevin.Airs@mailonline.com