Police have arrested rival gang members after an incident in Wairoa's Grey St last week in which shots were fired at a house and cars set alight.
Police have arrested rival gang members after an incident in Wairoa's Grey St last week in which shots were fired at a house and cars set alight.
Members of the Mongrel Mob and Blackpower gangs in Wairoa have been taken into custody in the wake of a shooting and car fire incident in the town last week.
Several gang members were arrested and charged in the town in the past week after the issuing of a Gang Conflict Warrant under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act 2023.
The act enables police to apply for special search warrant powers during times of gang conflict.
It followed an incident on Grey St in Wairoa on September 10 when a house was shot at and cars were set on fire.
“A woman suffered serious burns as a result and it was fortunate that more people were not seriously injured,” acting Tairāwhiti area police commander Inspector Danny Kirk said.
Police conducted 15 vehicles stops while the Gang Conflict Warrant was in place.
“As a result of these vehicle stops, five gang members – a mix of Mongrel Mob and Black Power - were arrested and charged with a range of offences, including possession of offensive weapons, possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, driving while disqualified, and breach of bail,” Kirk said.
“Various quantities of methamphetamine and cannabis were located, along with knives and other weapons including a set of knuckle dusters with a blade attached.”
Black Power and Mongrel Mob gang members are among those arrested and charged after a shooting and car fire in Wairoa.
Police also impounded three vehicles.
“In addition to the five arrests during vehicle stops, a 24-year-old patched Black Power member was arrested on September 13 and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after two firearms were located at his address.”
The man was remanded in custody to appear in Gisborne District Court.
“Alongside the work carried out by officers in Wairoa, Gisborne police continue to investigate a report of shots being fired at a house on Glasgow Cres overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday last week,” Kirk said.
“Nobody was injured in this incident. However the occupants of the house were understandably shaken.”
The people in the house told the Gisborne Herald they were shocked by what happened.
“We have done nothing to invite this into our lives,” they said.
Kirk said police would like to thank members of the public who got in touch with information to assist with their inquiries since last week.
“We urge anyone who has concerns about criminal offending by gangs in their community to contact us so this can be investigated.”
