Armed, dying fugitive still on the run

Tifiga Atanoa

Police have appealed to the criminal fraternity to help them find an armed and terminally ill gang member.

They are urging associates to dob in Mongrel Mob member Tifiga Atanoa, saying they would pay for information that led to his capture.

Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said some gang members had called police overnight with information on where Atanoa had been but police still needed the one call on where he was now.

Atanoa, 33, who has convictions for drug and violence offences, has a large, cancerous growth on his neck.

Mr Grimstone would not say how much police might be willing to pay.

"Some of these people are only driven by money, so if that's what it takes, we'll pay," he said.

Atanoa had a "massive" methamphetamine or P habit and an "extremely short life expectancy".

"When a man is out there with his criminal background and pedigree, the firearms we know he's in possession of, and coupled with the meth and terminal illness, it's a pretty ugly recipe," Mr Grimstone said.

"Giving himself up to police before he meets his maker, I suggest, would not be high on his list of priorities."

Atanoa was known to be carrying firearms, including a double-barrelled shotgun.

"No one is to approach him. He will go to great lengths to elude capture," Mr Grimstone told National Radio today.

Atanoa had been "standing over little people in the criminal fraternity".

"He sees himself as a law unto himself and even the criminal fraternity have had a gutsful," Mr Grimstone said. "We're asking them to make the phone call, we'll deal with it from there."

Mr Grimstone said it was his understanding Atanoa had lymph-node cancer but had refused treatment.

He should not be approached under any circumstances.

"I'm just concerned a normal patrol car will stop him for some traffic-type offence and end up looking down the barrel of a gun," he said.

Police had been chasing him for 10 days.

"The trail has gone cold but we need to get our hands on this man."

Atanoa was last sighted at a social gathering in Mangere last weekend.

He was on bail and was due to appear in Manukau District Court in April after being charged with firearms and driving offences.

He did not show up.

"Court orders are just a nonsense to him and he's disregarding them," Mr Grimstone said.

Atanoa is described as Polynesian, about 1.8m (6ft) tall and of solid build.

* Police are appealing to anyone with information on Atanoa's whereabouts to contact them on (09) 295 0220.

- additional reporting NZPA