Two more arrested in Hells Angels sweep

Police have been arresting Hells Angels members as part of a sweep. Photo / Mike Cunningham

Two more men have been arrested as part of a nationwide operation targeting Hells Angels and their associates.

Acting Police Commissioner Viv Rickard said the men were arrested today in Auckland.

Hells Angels members and their associates were arrested in Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier, Nelson and the Western Bay of Plenty yesterday in a blitz that was more than two years in the planning.

Nine people were arrested on firearms charges in relation to alleged illegal hunting in state forests without permits and without firearms licences over the past year.

Six guns were seized as a result of search warrants carried out simultaneously at several properties yesterday morning.

The arrests were the result of a joint operation between New Zealand Police and OFCANZ (Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand).

Mr Rickard said police and other enforcement agencies were keeping the pressure on criminal activities in the cities and in small towns.

"Yesterday's arrests of Hells Angels members and their associates in Auckland and a second significant drug bust in the town of Dannevirke are typical of the operations being undertaken to disrupt the criminal activities of people involved with drugs and firearms," he said in a statement.

All those arrested are either members or associates of the Hells Angels.

Police and 22 other enforcement agencies were involved in a sustained effort to ensure that such groups were brought to account for offending.

"With each operation the gangs lose weapons, drugs, cash and any assets that we can seize under the proceeds of crime legislation.

"Also this week there has been two significant drug busts in Dannevirke with local police having uncovered nearly 1200 cannabis plants growing in sophisticated operations in just five days."