Weapons police say have been seized in the three-week Operation Bloodhound in the Eastern Police District. Photo / NZ Police
Weapons police say have been seized in the three-week Operation Bloodhound in the Eastern Police District. Photo / NZ Police
Home-made weapons are among 30 firearms seized in a three-week Hawke's Bay and East Coast police operation which also included the seizure of more than $100,000 in a single search and arrests of more than 30 people.
Operation Bloodhound was set up to "investigate and disrupt" gang activities in the district, a statement released today said.
Cash police say was seized in a search yesterday. Photo / NZ Police
A police spokesperson confirmed there were two searches of "gang headquarters" in Napier yesterday – one in Napier and one in Tamatea – and that the cash was seized in one of them.
While police would not disclose which search, sources confirmed to Hawke's Bay Today a large amount of cash had been seized by police in relation to the Tamatea search.
A police statement said that since Operation Bloodhound commenced on March 21, search warrants have been executed at addresses and on vehicles across Hawke's Bay and he Gisborne Tairāwhiti area, targeting members and associates of the Mongrel Mob and Black Power.
Eastern Police District crime services manager detective inspector Dave De Lange said: "As a result of these warrants, more than 30 people associated with gangs in Eastern District are facing charges, and more than 30 firearms have been taken out of the hands of gang members and associates."
Police searched this Maraenui gang headquarters on Wednesday. Photo / NZME
"Police have also seized a large amount of cash, with approximately $100,000 located at a gang headquarters in Napier yesterday," he said.
He also said that as part of the operation, police received intelligence suggesting that a Hawke's Bay man was allegedly making firearms and other weapons.
A search warrant was executed at the man's rural property on March 29 and uncovered several home-made pistols and explosive devices, a range of other firearms and firearms parts and ammunition, as well as cannabis plants and drug utensils.
The man, described as a 54-year-old gang associate, is now facing multiple charges of unlawfully carrying/possessing a firearm/restricted weapon; as well as charges relating to unlawfully possessing ammunition, cultivating cannabis, and possession/use of methamphetamine utensils.
Police investigations were continuing to trace the origins of the seized firearms to see if they were stolen and if so from where.
Napier MP Stuart Nash, who was Minister of Police behind last year's firearms amnesty and buy-back, said most firearms seized in gang crime operations were illegally held and assumed stolen.
The buy-back had removed over 60,000 firearms that could no longer be stolen, mainly the most serious and dangerous of firearms, he said.
The establishment of a gun register now taking place was driven by the need to be able to trace record and trace ownership of firearms, especially those seized in relation to police criminal investigations, Nash said.
Police told Hawke's Bay Today it was "important to note" that last year's firearms amnesties and buybacks aimed to remove specific types of firearms from our communities, and "they were successful in doing so."
"Removing the most dangerous firearms from circulation lessens the risk of them being stolen or falling into the wrong hands," the spokesperson said.
