New Zealand, Gangs targeted in two city drug swoop

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/gangs-targeted-in-two-city-drug-swoop/3933491/

A web of inter-gang drug dealing was revealed in the Napier District Court yesterday with the appearance of five people arrested in relation to an alleged Auckland and Hawke's Bay methamphetamine trade.

While police said one person arrested in Auckland was a Hell's Angels motorcycle gang member, at least one of those arrested in Napier had Mongrel Mob ties.

"It is not that unusual," Napier CIB Detective Sergeant Brian Schaab said. "When it comes to making money - well that over-rides gang rivalry."

The proceeds of the trade were also revealed yesterday. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle was seized in Auckland and had allegedly been used in committing drug offences. Searches there also uncovered 4g of methamphetamine, and a single stash of about $20,000.

In Napier, five flat-screen TVs were found in a woman's home from where drugs were alleged to have been sold, and investigations were being made into whether any were stolen, or bought with the proceeds of drug-dealing.

The arrests early yesterday were the culmination of a five-month investigation targeting drugs allegedly sourced in Auckland and sold in Napier.

Appearing in Napier District Court late yesterday were fish filleter William Gordon Paul, 41, unemployed Robert Mason Rewita, 40, and sickness beneficiary Manu Hine Ngaronoa, 48, all of whom had addresses in the suburb of Onekawa, and Tracey Margaret Benson, 41, of Maraenui, and Michael George Barber, 30, of Tamatea.

All face charges of conspiring with Carl Jeffares, 33, of Napier, and Kishor Chandra Singh, 39, of Auckland to supply methamphetamine, along with additional possession and supply charges, dating-back to July 2.

By last night at least 11 people had been arrested in the culmination of the inquiry, including two others in Napier.