According to U.S. prosecutors, a 45-year-old Vancouver native and Hells Angel member, Damion Ryan, orchestrated a scheme to assassinate two Iranian dissidents residing in Maryland. The plot was ultimately foiled, but it has drawn significant attention due to its alleged connections to Iranian interests.
Historical Context of Criminal Patriotism
During the 1995 Quebec referendum, a Hells Angel member famously stated that the biker gang opposed separation, citing it as "bad for business." This sentiment echoes historical instances where organized crime groups, such as the Mafia during World War II, assisted in national efforts against threats like Nazi saboteurs. These criminals, while engaged in illicit activities, were not considered traitors to their countries.
Alleged Iranian Involvement
Prosecutors claim that Ryan was allegedly working for Iranian drug kingpin Naji Zindashti, who is accused of acting as a proxy for the Iranian government. The indictment details that Ryan assembled a hit team to eliminate the dissidents for a sum of $350,000 U.S., approximately $500,000 Canadian, plus $20,000 in expenses. Zindashti is currently on the FBI's Most Wanted List, highlighting the severity of the allegations.
Iran's Use of Criminal Networks
Experts note that Iran increasingly leverages criminal networks, such as the Hells Angels and Mexican cartels, to conduct extraterritorial operations. This strategy provides deniability for the state while neutralizing perceived threats abroad. A BBC report describes these activities as "grey zone" tactics, where intermediaries like Zindashti create layers of operational complexity to obscure direct state responsibility.
Ryan's Extensive Criminal Record
Damion Ryan faces multiple charges beyond the alleged Iranian plot. He has been convicted in Manitoba for trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Additionally, he is named in a British Columbia government lawsuit targeting Hells Angels clubhouses. Recent charges include his involvement in the 2021 murder of Giovanni Costa in Bolton, Ontario, where his son, Michael, was the intended target and survived two assassination attempts.
- Ryan is scheduled for a court appearance in Ottawa on April 13 regarding the Bolton murder.
- He faces a drug conspiracy sentencing in Winnipeg on May 6, following a December conviction.
- New charges include attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder from 2020 and 2021.
Two other individuals, Filmon Fesshaghirgis and Waheed Barakziye, remain fugitives in connection with the Bolton case. It is important to note that none of the charges against Ryan have been proven in court.
Broader Implications for International Security
The collaboration between the Iranian regime and organized crime groups raises significant security concerns. Labour Peer Kevan Jones told The Guardian that Iran is increasingly using hired criminals to execute its agendas, a trend that may accelerate amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. This development marks a shift from historical norms, where groups like the Hells Angels previously demonstrated nationalistic tendencies, as seen during the Quebec referendum.
In contrast to figures like Lucky Luciano, who famously stated there is "no good money or bad money, only money," but were not traitors, Ryan's alleged actions represent a dangerous evolution in criminal behavior. The case underscores the growing intersection of international politics and organized crime, posing challenges for law enforcement and global stability.
