KIRSTY JOHNSTON
stuff.co.nz
Police inspect and remove property from a Featherston St house in Palmerston North today..
Police made numerous arrests and seized drugs and cash from several gangs, including the outlawed Australian Rebels, in a major operation across five districts today.
More than 100 police staff were involved in the raids, in the North Island’s Central District, targeted at organised crime and methamphetamine.
One of the property's targeted in Palmerston North was on Featherston St, where at least three large motorbikes were wheeled out of the garage and examined by police before being towed away.
A jogger who passed by the address about 6.30am told the Manawatu Standard that the sheer number of police cars outside the property was unusual and caught his attention.
"There were about four vehicles on the corner of Roy and Featherston streets and about three parked further down outside a house. It was strange."
The man said he saw police talking to people on the porch of the house.
"There were children, adults and police outside."
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the people living there had only moved in a few months ago.
"We've been here three or four years. I haven't really noticed anything strange going on but then again I do work so I probaby wouldn't see or hear a lot.
"I'm a bit worried now, though."
She said the people in the house that police raided, but so did a lot of other neighbours.
"Sometimes there are kids there but I don't really see much of anyone."
Another neighbour said things at the property were "odd".
Police also raided properties in Hamilton.
Police have said they are determined not to let the Rebels - Australia’s largest outlaw motorcycle gang - set up in New Zealand, despite reports they were actively trying to establish a local chapter.
Detective Superintendent Brett Kane of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency said last month that police had already dealt with more than a dozen patched Rebels members near Auckland Airport and sent one member, who was trying to get into New Zealand, back to Australia.
"Rebel gang members have been sighted in a number of localities throughout the North Island recently and been the focus of police attention already,” he said.
The gang was involved in serious violence, drug manufacture and trafficking in Australia, Kane said.
Central police communications spokeswoman Kim Perks said full results of today’s operation were still being collated.
Details would be released at a press conference attended by police Minister Judith Collins at 4pm this afternoon
