Britton Broun and Michael Forbes
stuff.co.nz
WHEELER DEALERS: Properties in 10 centres, including this one in Palmerston North, were raided. Thirty arrests were made, and police expected to make more overnight.
An Australian motorcycle gang's business acumen and corporate style make it the likely central power behind a huge methamphetamine operation busted by New Zealand police, an expert from their home country says.
More than 100 police raided addresses in the North Island yesterday, seizing expensive cars and motorbikes, guns, drugs and more than $120,000 in cash.
Thirty people were arrested in the raids, which followed months of covert policing of a methamphetamine distribution network run by four gangs, including Australia's Rebels Motorcycle Club.
Nine people have since appeared in court - six in Palmerston North, two in Wanganui and one in Rotorua - on various drug charges.
A 16-year-old boy was referred to youth aid and a 30-year-old woman was let off with a warning.
Arthur Veno, an Australian academic who has studied outlaw motorcycle clubs for 30 years, had no doubt the Rebels would be the organising power.
He described the gang as like a "corporate business", with some of its overseas chapters running legitimate companies that sold Rebels-brand motorcycle gear.
"You're looking at a mob that is far more professional and business-like than your average street gang. They have the nous and understanding to hide assets ... The level you approach them at is corporate crime."
Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said yesterday's arrests, together with more expected overnight and today, had stymied the gang's growing presence in New Zealand.
"It would be optimistic to say this is the end of the Rebels in New Zealand. But certainly we've struck a blow to their bow."
A "good proportion" of those arrested for producing and dealing methamphetamine were also drawing benefits and "squeezing the taxpayer dry while making amounts of money that many people can only dream of", Mr Bensemann said.
Gangs were putting aside their differences and working together to make big profits from drugs such as methamphetamine.
"In the last five to 10 years, I've seen increased inter-gang co-operation as a result of methamphetamine, and the supply of meth."
The police operation found a meth lab in Murupara and a "highly organised" distribution network based in Palmerston North.
A Palmerston North finance company was also under investigation for money laundering.
Mr Bensemann refused to give details of the company, except to say there was "significant money lost to subjects" tied up in the company. He suggested those people were aware of its potential front for criminal activity.
"Certainly there is an awareness, where meth is piped through, that's for sure."
The Rebels, founded in Sydney in the late 1960s, have more than 3000 members, becoming the biggest motorbike gang in Australia.
Chapters had spread to Sweden, the United States, Thailand and now New Zealand.
Dr Veno said one of the founders, Alex Vella, was a businessman. "Police have confiscated his [assets] three times and had to give them back each time ... His sergeant-at-arms has all these tats and nose piercings – and he's a lawyer."
Dr Veno described the Rebels' structure as like a kingdom made up of fiefdoms. Some chapters were "squeaky clean", such as a motorcycle cruising club. Others dealt drugs and committed brutal murders.
"Because of the differences in the chapters, they're a hard organisation to nail under any organised crime act. You've got to know the local crew and who's in it to make effective moves against them."
In 2006 it was reported that Australian Rebels wanted to move into New Zealand and had talked to local Tribesmen about aligning. Late last month police announced the Rebels were trying to set up chapters here.
Tribesmen, a largely Maori motorcycle gang whose trademark colour is yellow, are reported to have family ties to the Rebels. A former gang-intelligence policeman said some, but not all, Tribesmen chapters were patching over. He had spoken to a motorcyclist wearing a Rebels patch, who was a Tribesman from the Whanganui chapter in "new colours, same whanau".
BY THE NUMBERS:
500,000 – dollars worth of methamphetamine [14oz] was seized during one of many covert raids
120,000 – dollars cash was seized
150 – police were involved
60 – per cent of arrests were in the Central District area
40 – search warrants were executed
30 – men and women were arrested
29 – vehicles were seized, including BMWs, Mercedes and Harley-Davidson motorcycles
10 – centres were raided: Palmerston North, Whanganui, Auckland, Hamilton, Northland, Murupara, Feilding, Levin, Foxton and Otaki
5 – police districts launched raids: Central, Waikato, Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty
2 – gang houses raided contained children. They were placed in CYF care
1 – Palmerston North finance company is now under investigation for money laundering
- with NZPA
- The Dominion Post
