Six Americans Were Held Against their Will in Norway

"I was kidnapped and terrorized by another country" - Mike Kondash of Salem, Oregon

(SALEM) - Six Americans traveling to Norway for a five-day vacation were immediately taken into custody after landing at the Stavanger airport last week. The men from Oregon and Washington, spent several days in custody, never learning until the end what they were being held for, or how long officials intended to jail them.

"I was kidnapped and terrorized by another country," Mike Kondash of Salem, Oregon said. This honorably discharged U.S. Navy Veteran recalls the first Norway Customs officer at the airport saying, "We don't want you in our country."

One of three U.S. Veterans in this group, Kondash says he also heard statements from Norwegian officials that he and the others, who have traveled to Norway in the past, were now considered "undesirable" and that they could "pose a threat".

An attorney was provided the same day that the six, all present and past members of the Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club, were arrested at the airport.

After talking to officials, the attorney said, "Some of you have criminal records and some of you don't, but they believe there is a chance that you might do something wrong here."

Yet the lawyer also said it was unclear exactly why they were in custody, Kondash explains.

"60 hours in a eight-by-eleven cell with no information of any kind, wondering why I was in custody. They took everything but my underwear."

It is not editorializing to state that media and police frequently, even routinely, describe motorcycle club members as criminals without justification. Hollywood piles on the idea and Americans are programmed accordingly. However, Mike Kondash, like many others in the biker community, has no criminal past at all (beyond traffic tickets), and he is a Salem, Oregon business owner.

One of the men taken into custody has a substantial hearing problem. Kondash says the jailers in Stavanger did not determine that the man had a hearing disability, and he went long periods without eating because he didn't respond to impatient guards when his name was called to receive food.

Kondash says they were not allowed to see a U.S. consulate, and they were denied rights that were provided under Norwegian law.

"Well you can't have these"

The Norwegian government purchased tickets for the men and sent them back to the U.S. after their release. Instructions for the airline pilot on each of the 'deported' passengers somehow ended up in the passenger's belongings.

A U.S. Customs official removed the documents from Kondash's property, noting that the two pages of instructions for the pilot stated, 'Do not give to any unauthorized personnel'.

As it turns out though, the six passengers were checked by different Customs agents upon returning to Seattle, and all were not as thorough as the one who checked Kondash. Three sets of those same documents were left in the possession of the Americans.

The information regarding the six Americans was essentially the same. It is a two page set of instructions, and on the second page is a series of boxes describing the reason a person is being deported. In the case of the six bikers, they each had four boxes checked.

These are the four boxes checked under the category 'Unescorted deportees (depu) svg-osl-nyc'

Those are the descriptions of six Americans who were allowed to fly all the way to Norway in good faith, and rejected at the airport gate.

They were all held in custody in Stavanger, which is about an hour's drive from Oslo.

Kondash has discovered that their club is not the only one that has been singled out in this respect and denied entry. He says the men believe their rights were sharply violated and question what message Norway is sending.

I have been studying the Chicago Convention referenced in the pilot's instructions that the men were fortunately able to keep. Also known as the Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO), the Chicago Convention is according to Wikipedia:

“

...a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with coordinating and regulating international air travel. The Convention establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel.

”

Conclusion

In reviewing this treaty, it appears to have little to do with a government's right to reject a person who legally visits another country, and far more to do with airplane and airport safety. (see: Convention on International Civil Aviation)

While they are all safe and sound now, the experience was not a pleasant one for Kondash and the five other men. He says the food was minimal and unfit to eat, and he remains shocked that a country that only a few months ago received and treated him with respect and dignity, would for no definable reason arrest he and the others while maintaining an air of secrecy, and denying clearly stated rights like the ability to a place a phone call, and to receive food.

I intend to review this case more extensively and also consult an international lawyer on our team, to gain the best possible understanding of what circumstances Norway believes grant a legal right to jail, hold without charges, and deport six Americans in this manner.

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Magnus R March 3, 2015 3:06 am (Pacific time)

The comments on this article are amusing and, expectedly, brash. The simple matteris that these men were members of a black listed criminal organization (yes, not all members are criminals, but your reptuation is what you potentially you sacrifice for being in a criminal gang) on their way to an event hosted by another criminal organization, in the middle of severe unrest between HA and Bandidos. Also, since it's poinsted out five times in the article that one is a "business owner", is it unusual for crooks in the colonies to engage themselves with business?

Florencia C August 16, 2012 9:08 am (Pacific time)

I have being deported from Norway also last month but my case is a little bit different, but I believe that Americans are not welcome in Norway.

Daniel November 29, 2011 12:50 pm (Pacific time)

Tim another factor to consider was the recent mass killing of mostly children in Norway by a deranged gunman . The killer received his outlawed large capacity magazines with high power rounds from a US supplier . This incident with the Jokers is unfortunate but not surprising in our ever more defensive world . If two young men of color cross over the border into the USA from Canada with a new expensive car there is a great chance the vehicle will be torn apart looking for drugs . The young men will also get harassed . If a group of religious men from any middle eastern country start speaking their own language on a USA flight they may get thrown off . We all know much worse has happen to many others by the authorities , much much worse . Unfortunately in the USA we have lost a lot of the moral high ground , in the last 12 years its really gotten tarnished . I understand the paranoia of the Norway border guards over any organized group of men . Especially ones who look like they could put up quite a resistance if need be . I do not agree with it but understand where some of the fear is coming from . Next time they should just say they are a ZZ Top cover band , no problem ! Face it Tim if these gentlemen looked like Don Knots and Wilford Brimly they could have gotten thru , but they all look like somebody most people have the good scene not to mess with . This is not a justification but an explanation .

Rebecca November 29, 2011 8:34 am (Pacific time)

Thank you Tim for writing this story. My family and I travel quite a bit. This incident has made us reconsider travel plans. We will never understand what the Norway Police were thinking aside from the basic concept of true profiling. These men in particular are good men. I know one of them personally. I can not stomach the thought of a man of his stature to be treated this way. I will continue to be completely shocked that a country that has beliefs in strength and honor would dishonor some of the strongest and loyal men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing just because of the way they look. I am a professional woman and I have tattoos so does that mean I can't go to Norway that is ok I DON'T want to go there now or ever again. So Glad that these guys are home in the USA I will sleep better knowing that they are here.

Jesse CMC November 28, 2011 10:39 am (Pacific time)

Yo Andre.. Who is to say our exports arent the reason.. You are just trying to justify this issue.. I feel bad for these men and i think norway should be embarrassed.. Your stupid for calling someone stupid.. I bet if u met these gentlemen you would feel different. Dont judge!!! Bet you would say these things to there face?? ya bet not.. have a nice day.. CFFC

patrick November 28, 2011 6:50 am (Pacific time)

Correction to my comment made 28 Nov 2011 1243 sorry for the misspell I was typing too fast the abbreviation for the Gypsy Joker Morotrcycle Club should read GJMC. Sorry guys it will not happen again.

EDITOR: Correction made.

patrick November 28, 2011 12:43 am (Pacific time)

I personally met and spent some time with all of the men shown in the picture and these are some of the greatest guys I have met and to hear that they were treated the way they were is sad. I agree with the editor dont judge a book by it's cover just because someone has a MC patch does not make them a criminal. To my GJMC friends I hope you guys get justice in this case hope to see you soon.

Joe November 26, 2011 5:19 pm (Pacific time)

So criminal gangs are not welcome in Norway. How intolerant they should be sued by the GJ's

Editor: Joe, are you sure you aren't a criminal, what gives? Never broke the law? Some of the men who you refer to have never been arrested. You sound awfully uptight, I assume you never had what it took to climb on a motorcycle and dig the magic?

Plainview November 26, 2011 4:51 pm (Pacific time)

Funny how our "allies" can protect their boarders while down here in the arid west it seems our boarders are just a gateway to those who want to start another culture in America and corporate wealthfare recipints who need cheap labor to fill in the bottom line. America, wake up. If Norway can do this to a bunch of Vets visiting Norway maybe we can do it here.

Anna November 25, 2011 4:19 am (Pacific time)

In Norway there have been a lot of problems with criminal bikers, and therefor the police and customs are careful to let in members from other countries.
Whenever an american are stopped at the boarder or sent home, because we dont want them in our country, we are the ones who is wrong, what about all the people the us are stopping or not even giving a visa to?
dont throw stones in a glas house!!
Maybe the one who wrote this article should talk to the norwegian police, hear their story to? Its normal with two different sides in one case you know..
And btw Stavanger is at least 7 hours from Oslo

Tim King: I have several inquiries out, and I agree that the police should weigh in on this and explain this unusual act. The most curious part is that a number of these men if not all, have visited Norway in the past, and had no legal problems of any kind.. I understand the distance stated was incorrect, I apologize for that.

World traveller November 25, 2011 3:29 am (Pacific time)

Quite an interesting reaction from citizens in a country where immigration services are comparable to those of North Korea. Department of Homeland Security would have shipped these gentlemen straight to Gitmo.

Editor: If you're referring to me, I'm in no way trying to rally for U.S. policies or advocate for the madness that began under Bush; no conflict there.

Andre, Norwegian November 24, 2011 3:12 am (Pacific time)

Ok Tim King.
I see that you have misunderstood my meaning of my earlier comments. Sorry, but English is not my mother tongue, so it is usually hard to get the facts in exactly as I'd like them to be understood. Like you would try to explain something in Norwegian, you would most likely be misunderstood sometimes... I did NOT mean that the police had a good reason to to this towards THESE 6 members... But in general... After HA had their meeting here in Norway, the national kind of MC club warning has been abit raised.. But i don't excuse the police in this matter, as I also explained in my first comment. It is OK to have the bar raised, but they should learn to get the facts straight about every single individual before they do something like this. They probably checked up on the MC club, and got some red flags.. What they should have done, was to check up on every single individual...

And Tim King: The ABSOLUTELY most important work the police does no matter whick country it is, is the preventive work. If they do good enough preventive work, they can anticipate a crime before it's done..

Are you serious when you say that they should only get to work AFTER someone has been raped, killed and so on? Instead of making preventive means so they can prevent this poor girl of beeing raped or killed? I really don't think you mean that, cause you seem like a very ambulatory person... :)

André

Tim King: Andre, I was raised to not judge a book by its cover, I'm sure you agree the idea has real merit. We are talking about the entire concept of racial and criminal profiling, and it is controversial at best. In fact there are huge problems associated with it here in the U.S. While it was greatly eroded in recent years, Americans have a Right to Privacy that guarantees we can go about our business without harassment from police. However I hope police can keep track of known criminals and that every reasonable measure can be taken, like increased patrols, etc., to prevent harm to people. (preventing rape and murder of course) I am a strong proponent of personal safety, I just place a high value on other rights as well.

At any rate I appreciate your clarification, yes of course language translation can be difficult. I hope something can be learned from this and that Norway can take appropriate action to ensure that visitors are treated better in the future. Of course I would always expect my country to extend the same degree of civility to international visitors.

Andre, Norwegian November 23, 2011 11:47 pm (Pacific time)

Butch Ryan.
How very mature of you to bring our export into this... Wow.. Stupid..

Norwegian customs and pilice don't do this out of nothing. They most likely had a good reason for this. That is NOT beeing told by King... Or the "criminal biker club" members..

John Cusick : "They do whatever they want and get away with it" ???? And you mean that US is the right country to speak that language??? Couple of months ago we had a case here in Norway where US embassy had broken SEVERAL norwegian laws on surveilance++++. They had no right to do that. US hides behid the "war on terror" and do exactly what they like, and blames it on that...

Tim King: These gentlemen did absolutely nothing wrong, they are being singled out and treated with total prejudice. That sounds to me like fascism, and what your country did violates a great number of existing laws that pertain to Norway and several surrounding countries. Simply said, these men had international rights that your country failed to observe. I like your logic, they police,"most likely" had a good reason, sounds like blind faith to me. Seriously, you can not assume police are always right.

Andre, let me explain, people from all walks of life commit crimes, people of all walks of life ride motorcycles, people of all descriptions belong to various types of clubs. Some motorcycle clubs have members who have committed crimes, and some who have not. I believe I can show that nearly every police agency in the U.S. and I'm sure Norway, has had officers commit crimes. Does this mean that every member of that agency should be blacklisted? Can you name a country with a military that has never committed a war crime? Of course not, it happens and is not indicative of the greater purpose of that group. People should be judged only by their individual actions and it is not the job of police to anticipate crime, it is their job to respond to it.

John Cusick November 23, 2011 6:26 pm (Pacific time)

I feel very sad for these men but not surprised. My wife kidnapped my children to Norway and after she died of cancer they refused to let me take them home to NY. The child services head was asked by me “If I lived any ware in Norway would you give me my children tomorrow? She said yes. So the only problem is that I am American and live in the United States?! She said “Yes” I am a 20 year veteran in law enforcement with impeccable credentials. The Norwegian law states I should have soul parental responsibility that was in 2009. Several flights, legal cases, hotel stays and 30 k later my son has been moved from one household to another in that miserable country! I am trying to say don’t count on the legal system there to give you any satisfaction. They do whatever they want and get away with it. Be glad you are back on American soil.

Mich November 23, 2011 6:09 pm (Pacific time)

To Endre, Norwegien !! you are wrong the HA Europa meeting in Oslo was several weeks ago and this has nothing to do with this ! The Stavanger Police is trying to prevent Joker MC, Norway to assosiate with their forreign freinds. Please note that 5 Australian was deported in this case as well

TATTOO USA November 23, 2011 4:26 pm (Pacific time)

looks like we have the finest law people in norway on the case now.well see.

Anonymous001 - Reverend Donoghue November 23, 2011 4:03 pm (Pacific time)

Ralph, just as I choose not to buy any products sold by Israel due to their immoral and racist actions, I will avoid Norway unless and until they admit that they are in the wrong. There are many beautiful places in Europe. It is time to stand against wrongfulness and not wait until they "come for 'us'"...

Butch Ryan, Anaconda, MT November 23, 2011 2:24 pm (Pacific time)

I can't imagine why any country would deport these fine gentlemen. Maybe the U.S. isn't buying enough of their fish and they're mad at us and taking it out on these fine lads. I won't be going to Norway again.

Spike Northwest Veteran MC November 23, 2011 12:45 pm (Pacific time)

Hard to believe that the country that awards the Nobel prizes would be so incredably callus to human rights! I hope these Americans sue Norway for kidnapping them. I think these custom officials are clearly the criminals!
Thanks for your sevice to this great nation to the three veterans and welcome home friends! It's a shame that you guys had to have such an unfortunate experience!

The Nobel Prizes are awarded by Sweden.

Ralph E. Stone November 23, 2011 7:25 am (Pacific time)

My wife and I toured Norway last year, concentrating on the western part with all its fjords and mountains. Beautiful. No one should pass up a chance to visit Norway just because of one incident of deportation.

Lardy November 23, 2011 5:35 am (Pacific time)

Being a member of a baseball,football, basketball or motorcycle club does not mean you are mean you are not worthy of basic human rights.Guilt by association should not be tolerated in any western society.Laws should not be based on fictional publications as in Hunter Thompsons book or on the fiction published in Wikipedia but on actual fact and each case should be viewed individually.When you have individuals who have served there country and the free world in the armed forces and then are subjected to the B/S that these people were it tells me there's something wrong with this so called free western society.Get them legal beagles working fellas and make them so called protectors of western democracy think twice of making bad de cessions as they see fit without following there own laws.It seems to be an international problem of local authorities breaching there own rules, laws and regulations when it comes to trying to control a minority when if they work inside there own already established rules and laws they will find them adequate to keep the western society quite safe.Again I say get them legal people on the case so it hurts there pockets and they might have to think twice about mucking with the freedoms that were handed to them 60 years ago by the same people they showed so little respect.

watisname November 23, 2011 4:48 am (Pacific time)

sad to say but your dept of homeland security has doubtless a role in this. There is a little known but ruthlessly enforced policy targeting known members of MC clubs and preventing them from entering the USA. By extension other nations have been heavily encouraged to implement the same traveling restrictions on members of motorcycle clubs. Norway is defending several legal cases brought by members of the Hells Angels in Europe over similar treatment. If your reporter were to dig under the freedom of information act I dont doubt that he would find a large can of worms linked to similar cases.

Andre, Norwegian November 23, 2011 4:05 am (Pacific time)

I am really sorry to hear about this. Very wrong of the norwegian customs. But i guess thia was at the time when Hells Angels had their world meeting here in Oslo. Bikers from ALL over the world was stopped at the border because of this. This is because big problems were expected by these bikers. And Norwegian law enforcement are alot more tied on their hand than american. Here in Norway, cops don't carry sidearms f.ex. They took precautions just because of the HA meeting. But I am very sorry to hear, that innocent people also got stopped. Americans are ALWAYS very welcome in Norway.. I have never before met an American, that REALLY didn't feel welcome here. And by the way... Stavanger is NOT 1 hour drive from oslo. It is 7 hours drive.

Eric November 23, 2011 3:11 am (Pacific time)

Take the hint. You are not welcome into our country. We dont need criminal people traveling into our country. And wht is said about the food, what you get here is normal size food, if you think it is to little, it explains why you people in Us are so fat.

Bob November 22, 2011 11:58 pm (Pacific time)

Me and my friends are training traditional karate here in Czech republic / Europe. My friends was traveling to the Los Angels dojo of sensei H.Nishiyama every year to teach the best. However from time to time, some of them didn´t receive US entry visa. They hadn´t any criminal records, they had a wifes and childrens, they had a work as employee or company owners and they aren´t members of bikers clubs or gangs. Could someone tell that they was risk for US ?! We call in our country, " Sweep before your doors at first ! " ;o)

THUMPER--Bikernews.net November 22, 2011 6:53 pm (Pacific time)

A sad tale and wrong from the start,,,
good luck with future actions on this matter...
another fine piece Mr. King,,,
keep swinging...

Tim King: Thanks Thumper, and also for your excellent publication: www.bikernews.net/

Anonymous001 - Reverend Donoghue November 22, 2011 10:56 am (Pacific time)

We are planning a two-month tour of Europe and will keep Norway out of our plans....

Brandon November 22, 2011 10:00 am (Pacific time)

Americans traveling abroad treated that way? it astonishes me that America and we Americans stand for such treatment. I mean history should speak for itself. Welcome home Mike

Anonymous November 22, 2011 8:22 am (Pacific time)

It appears that other Countries sate far head of us. Can we do that with our illegal so were able to put the American people back to work, have clean and empty hospitals, hear English when you go to Waar on Lancaster and all around the Cit, get our prison population down, get clem and good education in our schools,get rid of the gangs and so on. You get the pic

Ralph E. Stone November 22, 2011 7:55 am (Pacific time)

I wonder if their membership in the Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club had anything to do with their deportation. According to Wikipedia, the Club was prominently featured in Hunter Thompson's book "Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs," They were the second most powerful outlaw motorcycle club in California until they were forced out of the San Francisco Bay Area by the Hells Angels. They relocated to Oregon and Washington in 1967. I am not saying the Club's "bad" reputation is deserved or that the Wikipedia description is accurate, but the Norwegian authorities may have the Club's membership in their computers as undesirable visitors.

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