Police have executed more than 30 search warrants in cities including Auckland as part of a crackdown on the Mongrel Mob Barbarian motorcycle gang.
‘Operation Highwater’ is a concentrated operation targeting members and associates of the gang’s East Bay chapter.
The police’s National Organised Crime Group began the operation in December last year following an increase in violent crime and other offending relating to the gang.
Search warrants were executed in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay.
They targeted identified people believed to be involved in a North Island-wide drug distribution network, including methamphetamine and cannabis.
Police arrested a total of 28 people, seized illegal drugs and firearms and restrained assets.
Among the restrained assets are a residential property, four cars, a jetski, two trailbikes, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, as well as $86,000 in a bank account, about $20,000 of jewellery, and $65,500 cash, for a total value of $800,000.
The seizures include six firearms including five rifles and a 3D-printed pistol, quantities of illegal drugs including 12lbs of cannabis and smaller quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, and 13 Mongrel Mob Barbarian gang patches.
The investigation team is in the process of filing charges and confirming court dates.
Superintendent Tim Anderson says: “The termination of this operation is a clear message to gang members selling illegal drugs … that we will find you and you will be held accountable for your destructive behaviour.
“We will continue to relentlessly pursue criminals who prey on our communities and cause a huge amount of harm and misery in their own communities with their drug dealing and violent behaviour.
“I’d like to thank the community members who have reported this type of offending and I encourage them to keep reporting these drug dealers to us via 105 and Crimestoppers reporting lines.
“I’d also like to acknowledge and thank our organised crime detectives for their tireless work and dedication, as well as all our policing teams … who are making arrests every day to make us all much safer.”
Police say gang members commit a disproportionate amount of crime and harm in New Zealand, and particularly in the areas of serious assault, robberies, drug and firearms offences, and homicides.
“We continue to have a strong focus on disrupting unlawful activity by gang members and their associates, and holding offenders to account for crimes committed.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell says he wants to thank the officers involved in Operation Highwater for their “outstanding work”.
“Gang members cause significant and disproportionate harm to Kiwis, and by focusing resources on them police will continue to disrupt criminal activity and prevent the harm it causes in our communities.
“From November 21, the Gang Disruption Units will be significantly powered up with the Government’s new tools to get rid of gang patches, disperse gang gatherings and prevent known gang members consorting to commit crime.
“The Government is committed to restoring law and order and this operation marks a turning point in getting that job done.”
