New Zealand - Aussie gang feels police heat

 tvnz.co.nz

OFF THE WIRE
 tvnz.co.nz
More arrests are expected in coming weeks as police target the Australian Rebel motorcycle club, which has been trying to gain a foothold in New Zealand.
Yesterday, police executed search warrants at 13 addresses in New Plymouth, one in Otaki, one in Auckland and seven in Northland. More than 80 police were involved in the swoop.
A total of 22 people were arrested, including members and associates of the Rebels gang.
Every known patched member of the Rebels in Taranaki was locked up, and a high-ranking Rebels leader in Northland was arrested.
Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said yesterday's focus was "the continuation of our national focus on the Rebels gang and their continuing or ongoing recruitment of gang members".
Police found two sophisticated cannabis growing operations in New Plymouth which they say are part of a large scale distribution network of drugs throughout the country.
"There were two grow rooms," said Bensemann. "One in full operation and involved in excess of 50 plants."
Police also revealed that a live snake was found during an earlier crackdown on the outlaw bikie gang in February.
Bensemann said a snake was located at an address in Feilding, and detectives believe the gang smuggled it into New Zealand.
"That was recovered and handed over to MAF and put down," Bensemann said.
Earlier this year police seized cars and cash in similar raids across the North Island.
Police Minister Judith Collins said that after the latest arrests she believed that the message would start to sink in.
"Sooner or later they'll realise that New Zealand is a very bad place to set themselves up," Collins said.
"Earlier this year they were sent a very strong message that New Zealand doesn't want overseas outlaw gangs coming here and that our police and law enforcement agencies will do everything they can to make them feel as unwelcome as possible.
"Unfortunately, the gang didn't get the message, and has continued with plans to expand their influence.
"The message didn't get through the first time. I'm confident it'll be starting to sink in after yesterday's arrests."
The Rebels are Australia's biggest motorbike gang with nearly 4000 members and in February this year they told ONE News they were just a social group, riding motorbikes.
"The evidence obtained during this operation and the previous operation clearly contradicts their statement that they're a family group and that they have a no drugs policy," Bensemann said.
Police say there are more than 40 patched members in the North Island and the
numbers are swelling.
"We want to send a message to the Rebels gang that and those who are even thinking about joining the Rebels gang that their criminal activities will continue to receive our full attention," said Bensemann.