Cops stop gangsters getting to NZ party

A guest arriving at the Hell's Angels celebration gets some attention from the police. Photo / Jason Dorday

Infamous international thugs tried to duck into Auckland to help celebrate a motorcycle gang's 50th anniversary at the weekend - but were thwarted by New Zealand authorities.

The Hell's Angels held the celebrations at their headquarters in Brentwood Ave, Mt Eden, but 11 would-be partygoers were stopped from entering the country and police cracked down on several local members for traffic infringements.

Detective Inspector Grant Wormald said an intercepted email sparked the multi-agency operation, where authorities and gang members tried to outfox each other at border security.

The email addressed to Hell's Angels chapters worldwide suggested a range of methods to "avoid being detected".

"The operation to identify and intervene with international travellers was the direct result of an email located during a search of the Hell's Angels headquarters," Mr Wormald said.

In the run-up to the weekend, immigration, Customs and police worked together to identify and stop "notorious gang members" getting into the country for the party.

Eleven were identified - two were denied visas overseas, seven offloaded in their country of origin, and two refused entry after landing.

"These people are organised criminals, many with long criminal histories relating to drugs and fraud and other serious and violent offending," said Mr Wormald.

"We don't want them here networking and strengthening their ties with their New Zealand counterparts."

Early this year, a closely aligned gang, the Red Devils, had plans to become the first Hell's Angels chapter in the South Island.

The gang is now in disarray after police arrested the entire group on methamphetamine and other drug charges, conspiring to manufacture bombs, unlawful possession of firearms and being members of an organised criminal outfit.

"There is no doubt that the Hell's Angels internationally are an organised group of criminals. In 50 years, they have created many victims of violence and been responsible for peddling drugs in the community."

Police maintained a visible presence near the gang headquarters at the weekend, including setting up roadblocks on the street.

They photographed everyone who went in and out and took down names and addresses.

Mr Wormald said several infringement notices were written out for driving offences including failing to wear seatbelts, vehicle defects and driving behaviour.

Two people had their licences suspended for excess demerit points.

One gang member's motorcycle was seized under warrant for unpaid fines totalling $3800 and three other motorcycles were found to be not roadworthy because they were unsafe.

"Police will keep a vigilant eye on the gang's activities and those who have attended from as far afield as Wanganui and Hawkes Bay should be warned that their behaviour on the roads heading home will come under close scrutiny," Mr Wormald said.

Brentwood Ave residents had earlier received a letter from the gang alerting them to the party.

The gang politely asked that "should our celebrations exceed your extended tolerance feel free to contact Doug or Clyde".

New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties spokesman Batch Hales said the police security checks on the street had been based on sound foundations and precedents.

"Police have emergency powers to do those sorts of things, and most of the people in the street would probably welcome such intrusions, really."

New Zealand was the first country to have a Hell's Angels chapter outside the United States.