Senior members of the Comanchero Motorcycle Gang have been arrested after police raided seven Auckland properties today as part of a year-long investigation into the group.
More than 80 police staff, including the Armed Offenders Squad and police dogs, were involved in the Operation Nova raids, police said.
The warrants followed an investigation into the gang, the alleged importing of drugs into the New Zealand and the laundering of millions of dollars.
The recent arrival is the latest gang banned from wearing insignia and patches in government buildings.
A number of arrests have been made, including senior gang members and associates.
About $3.7 million in assets have since been restrained, including two residential properties and several high-end vehicles.
It includes a number of Range Rovers, a Rolls Royce and two Harley Davidson motorcycles.
They are a big problem in Australia, and now 14 members have been deported back to New Zealand because of strict immigration rules.
"We are determined to strip them of that wealth that we allege has come from criminal offending, and take the profit out of it," Detective Superintendent Greg Williams said.
"These seizures are also about removing the symbols of status and influence used by organised crime groups to attract others to join."
The investigation is ongoing and further arrests and the seizure of assets are possible.
The National Party leader says it’s a touchy issue which needs to be raised in the right way, but that “hardened criminals” are being sent to our shores.
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