Police raid Head Hunters in Wairarapa

Police yesterday morning searched nine properties across the region, including homes in Wairarapa, Upper Hutt, Titahi Bay and Paekakariki. PHOTO/FILE

Police have seized methamphetamine, cannabis, cash, cars, motorbikes and jetskis in raids on properties, some in Wairarapa, linked to the Head Hunters motorcycle gang.

Police yesterday morning searched nine properties across the region, including homes in Wairarapa, Upper Hutt, Titahi Bay and Paekakariki as part of a crack down on the gang's methamphetamine and money laundering networks.

Operation Flyer involved more than 60 officers -- including members of the armed offenders squad, and follows several months of investigation.

Detective Sergeant Shane Rongonui said the raids aimed to disrupt the methamphetamine supply network of the gang.

"The Head Hunters are a fast-growing gang, with a formidable reputation for physical violence and intimidation, and for orchestrating methamphetamine production and supply in New Zealand.

"In the past three years police have restrained about $14 million in assets from this gang, and laid about 1700 charges against its patched members."

Four men and one woman are facing charges relating to dealing methamphetamine and were due to appear in the Wellington District Court yesterday and today.

One of the men also faces charges relating to cannabis supply and cultivation, and theft.

Another faces cannabis supply charges, and two of the alleged offenders face charges related to aggravated robbery.

A third of Head Hunters members are either on bail, remanded in custody or in prison, Mr Rongonui said.

"The methamphetamine economy drives your house getting burgled, your car getting stolen; and keeps the organised crime groups and their gang supply chains in business," he said.

Further charges were expected to be laid today.