Police execute search warrants at South Island HQ of Mongols MC gang - report

Raids are being carried out south of Christchurch.
Raids are being carried out south of Christchurch. Photo credit: File

Search warrants are being carried out by police at what is believed to be the South Island headquarters of the Mongols MC gang.

Stuff reports that armed police searched a Rolleston home south of Christchurch on Monday morning, where the local president of the gang resides. The gang's headquarters in Burnham were also reportedly raided. 

A police spokesperson confirmed to Newshub search warrants had been executed at properties in Burnham and Rolleston but would not confirm any further details.

In June, police carried out a series of successful raids on the Mongols motorcycle gang which saw leaders arrested as well as cash, property, and vehicles seized. 

More than 100 officers executed raids at 10 properties across the Bay of Plenty, effectively putting an end to the regional chapter of the Mongols gang. Seventeen were arrested on a combined total of 263 charges following the bust. 

The majority of the members arrested had been deported from Australia, police said at the time.

"We have gang-focused units in Tauranga, in the Eastern District, we're putting one down in Christchurch - we've stepped them up," former Police Minister Stuart Nash told Magic Talk in September. 

Cracking down on New Zealand's gangs was a central topic of this year's election. National wanted to implement a dedicated police squad to "disrupt the operation of gangs", but lost the election in a landslide.

"Are [police] resourced and equipped with the laws and the tools and, as I say, the resourcing that they need? No, they're not," party justice spokesperson Simon Bridges said in September.