Guns, stun grenades in gang raids

Bay of Plenty police are vowing to continue a crackdown on gangs after raids on nine Mongrel Mob houses yesterday.

Armed officers arrested 19 members and associates of the gang in Tauranga and Rotorua, seizing stolen property, explosives, guns and other weapons and more than 100g of methamphetamine.

The raids began at dawn and targeted six houses in Rotorua and three in Tauranga. They followed what police described as an upsurge in Mongrel Mob activity.

Armed offenders squad officers from Bay of Plenty and Waikato used guns and stun grenades when executing search warrants at some addresses.

No shots were fired, but in Tauranga people in nearby streets thought gang shootouts had erupted when they heard the loud bangs and saw the bright lights and smoke from the distraction devices.

The Tauranga raids netted 84g of pure methamphetamine and property stolen in burglaries across the Western Bay.

The raids were carried out at houses in Gate Pa, Merivale and Welcome Bay.

Nine people, ranging in age from late teens to late 40s, were arrested, including three women.

The group, who police said were all Mongrel Mob members or associates from around the North Island, appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday afternoon.

They faced charges including possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of instruments for drug use and burglary.

Four of the nine were arrested for failing to appear at courts in Rotorua, Porirua, Hamilton and Auckland.

Tauranga's criminal investigation head, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner, said the raids targeted Mongrel Mob members who had recently moved to the city. "We did not have a credible Mob presence here before and we want to move to stamp it out."

Ten people were arrested in the Rotorua raids, among them senior patched members. Police also seized 20g of methamphetamine, 12 cannabis plants and weapons including a pistol and crossbow.