Hells Angels gang member wanted for 22 murders arrested in Panama

A  high ranking Hells Angels gang member from Montreal, Canada, wanted for 22 murders, has been arrested in Panama.

Canadian authorities have applied for the extradition  of Michael (L'Animal) Smith to face multiple criminal charges. He was arrested at Playa Coronado  110 miles west of Panama city , following a two months surveillance  and monitoring operation said a statement from the Panamanian police.

Smith is wanted in Canada on 29 criminal charges, including 22 first-degree murder drug trafficking and involvement in criminal gangs. He has been on the run since 2009 after a major  police crackdown on the Hells Angels, that put dozens in jail.

Aside from "L'animal," his aliases have included Mike Smith-Lajoie, Michel Lajoie-Smit and Michel Lajoie.

The warrant describes Smith as 5 feet 7 inches or 172 centimeters tall and weighing 210 pounds or 95 kilograms, with brown hair and blue eyes.

The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) described him as violent and said they were well aware of his connections to Central America,

"This dangerous man, who had managed to elude Canadian authorities since 2009, also part of the criminal group called the Hells Angels in the province of Quebec, said the Panama police statement. He is being held  while judicial and local immigration authorities coordinate his extradition to Canada.

Hells Angels in Quebec  long dominated the drug and prostitution trade and have been responsible for multiple killings, including a child  bystander gunned down on the streets of Montreal.