Cash, cars, drugs and guns seized as part of gang crackdown

Police have arrested five members or associates of the Hells Angels gang and seized guns, ammunition, drugs and cash as part of a coordinated Trans-Tasman operation.

Taskforce Morpheus involved New Zealand police and Australian law enforcement agencies to targeting members and associates of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club across the country.

National Gang Unit Detective Inspector Wayne Gray said as a result of the operation, three patched members and two associates of the gang were arrested and 18 charges laid for firearms and class A and B drugs offences.

Charges include unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and possession for supply of fantasy and possession for supply of methamphetamine.

He said a raft of other illegal items were also seized during searches across Auckland.

Elsewhere across the country, police also carried out activity in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central and Tasman districts.

A property was searched in west Auckland's Te Atatū Peninsula, where three AR-15 military semi-automatic rifles were seized, as well as firearms parts and ammunition.

Meanwhile, other searches uncovered numerous items of interest, Gray said.

"At a gang pad in the Takanini area, 400 bottles of alcohol and spirits were seized in relation to alleged breaches of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.

"We have seized quantities of MDMA, methamphetamine and GBL."

Overall, more than $150,000 in cash and approximately $93,000 in jewellery was found.

In Mount Eden, officers impounded a Mercedes Benz and Ford Ranger.

"These illegal and violent activities that outlaw motorcycle gangs chose to involve themselves in are having impacts across many communities," Gray said.

“We welcome every opportunity to work with law enforcement agencies across borders, and this unified effort is continuing to put pressure on gangs.”