Hells Angels: America's most dangerous biker group. say officers

About 50 guns, drugs and some explosives were seized as US agents executed some 85 search warrants.

The raids follow a two-year undercover investigation into the biker clubs by officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Those detained are suspected of drugs manufacturing and distribution, arms trafficking and extortion.

Motorcycle theft

Wednesday's operation took place in the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington and Alaska.

Federal officers made 40 arrests and local California police another 17 on state charges. Local police in other states are thought to have made additional arrests.

"We believe them to be involved in certain crimes such as theft of motorcycles, stripping of motorcycles, narcotics, trafficking in particular methamphetamine, trafficking firearms and explosives, said Donald Kincaid, Los Angeles spokesman for the bureau.

"As a matter of fact, we recovered some explosives earlier in this investigation, that were stolen [from the US military]."

He said the two-year operation aimed to reduce violent crime, and in particular gang-related crime.

Motorcycle jackets, memorabilia and rifles, shotguns, semiautomatic weapons and pistols seized from the Los Angeles clubhouse were on display at the news conference.

One Hells Angels member told KRNV-TV agents raiding the gang's Sparks, Nevada headquarters confiscated mostly clothing and trophies. One arrest was also reportedly made.

Leaders of local chapters in several states were also among those detained, authorities said.

'Old and dangerous'

Mr Kincaid said the operation should dispel the image of Hells Angels members as harmless older men with beards who simply enjoyed riding motorcycles.

The club has tried to improve its image with "Toys for Tots" drives, but they remain the largest and most heavily armed of the "outlaw" biker gangs, according to the bureau.

"If you have a Toys for Tots drive on the same day that you are cooking methamphetamine, which is your true persona?" Mr Kincaid asked.

"I'm old too and I can probably be dangerous if I put my mind to it."