By Tova O'Brien
More of those arrested in raids against the Australian Rebels gang in New Zealand are due to appear in court today.
Thirty men and women have been arrested and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property seized in a police operation that spanned the Tasman.
Cars, motorbikes, firearms, gang patches, drugs and more than $120,000 in cash were the spoils of a modern gang network.
The gang is far more organised, more considered and more effective than their predecessors.
“What you now see are [gangs] trying to stay below the radar and create business networks so that they can make money,” says detective superintendent Brett Kane.
New Zealand organised crime agencies and police teamed up with their Australian counterparts for “Operation Stamp”.
The operation is part of an effort to curb Australia’s biggest motorcycle club The Rebels from making themselves too at home.
“They're involved in drug dealing across the broad spectrum of drug types, they're involved in extortion, intimidation, serious violence and inter-gang rivalry,” he says.
About half of those arrested appeared in court yesterday.
A further three are to appear in Palmerston North District Court today. Two men on charges of conspiring to deal methamphetamine and one woman for various offences
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