Hawke's Bay Seafoods' property seized

Staff at Hawke's Bay Seafoods are back at work after being inundated with government officials on Wednesday. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Alleged fishing quota anomalies by Hawke's Bay Seafoods have led to High Court restraining orders placed on eight properties, five vehicles and more than $24,000 under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.

Following a six-month investigation the Ministry of Primary Industries led a raid on the Napier company, one of its largest-ever inshore fishery investigations involving 88 staff from MPI, Customs, Police, Immigration and Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.

While charges were yet to be laid by MPI on alleged discrepancies between what the company caught and what it sold, police moved to seize property.

Detective senior sergeant Brent Murray said eight residential properties and a commercial property located in Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Havelock North had been restrained, as was more than $24,000.

Police secured the property after they were approached by MPI following suspected "substantial benefit from crime" that individuals may have personally benefited from.

Owners were informed their property would be placed under the custody of the Official Assignee. The title was to be frozen and the properties could not be sold or borrowed against.

"Once the investigation is finalised a decision will be made whether or not application should be made to the High Court for forfeiture of asset," he said.

Cash seized was from two of five Havelock North properties restrained - about $5000 from one and $24,000 the other.

The directors of Hawke's Bay Seafoods, Nino and Joe D'Esposito, are listed by the Companies Office as residing in Havelock North.

Joe D'Esposito earlier declined to comment and said his brother was not in Hawke's Bay.

Fishery officers called police to a Napier property after finding a firearm. Police have not restrained that property.

MPI director of compliance Dean Baigent said all fishing assets could be forfeited and very serious penalties applied upon conviction.

In 2010 Nino D'Esposito pleaded guilty to charges of making false statements about a catch, while in 2009 19 under-sized rock lobsters were found on Hawke's Bay Seafoods' premises.

In 1994 the brothers were convicted of making false statements in quota reports and the illegal possession of fish. The court imposed a fine of $989,395 on them and related companies, with $10 million worth of boats and vehicles forfeited.

Hawke's Bay Seafoods is a quota owner, vessel operator, processor, wholesaler, exporter and retailer.