Six people have been arrested in a police sting targeting the Rebels MC gang on Friday.
Police staff from Auckland's organised crime unit carried out several search warrants targeting members of the gang as part of Operation Ryleigh. The operation was started in July after tensions between Rebels MC and King Cobra gangs saw a series of arsons carried out in Auckland.
As a result of the investigation police identified further alleged serious criminal offending, including the possession and supply of methamphetamine and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Six addresses in the suburbs of East Tāmaki, Mangere, Clendon Park, Papakura and Manurewa were searched and as a result six men were arrested and charged on Friday.
A 34-year-old man was charged with Participating in an Organised Criminal Group and Possession of Methamphetamine for Supply. Five others, aged from 25 to 39, were charged with Participating in an Organised Criminal Group.
All six are expected to appear in Counties Manukau District Court on Friday.
Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe said police cannot rule out the possibility of further charges being laid.
In addition to the six arrested today, two 27-year-olds, who were already before the courts on related offending, will also be facing additional charges of Participating in an Organised Criminal Group. One will face further additional charges of Unlawfully Possess a Firearm and ammunition, Supplies Methamphetamine, while the other faces further additional charges of Supplies Methamphetamine, offer to supply Methamphetamine and Supplies Cannabis Plant.
Detective Inspector Pascoe says while the investigations into the arsons remains ongoing, today's arrests show police's ongoing commitment to stamping out criminal offending by organised crime groups.
"Lives and families are destroyed by methamphetamine, and gangs are at the centre of that destruction.
"Police and our partners see the hurt methamphetamine causes to individuals on a daily basis. All the gangs are interested in are the profits so they can lead an outwardly lavish style, they have no interest in the damage left behind by this drug they continue to peddle," says Detective Inspector Pascoe.
Over the course of this investigation, firearms, ammunition and methamphetamine have been seized.
