Gangs united in business

By ELEANOR BLACK

Networking has moved beyond business into the world of organised crime, say Rotorua police, who have broken a sophisticated network of gang alliances.

The alliances connect Auckland drugs dealers with gangs as business partners in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

Some of the gangs held annual general meetings, took minutes at their meetings and created business plans, police said.

This information is the result of a six-week undercover drug operation, which was based in Rotorua.

Thirty-three people were arrested this week on charges of selling LSD, methamphetamines and cannabis. Forty homes were raided by 80 police officers.

Undercover officers managed to infiltrate Filthy Few chapters at Rotorua and Waihi. They befriended gang members and bought drugs from them.

They also established that the Filthy Few, a Bay of Plenty gang, has strong business relationships with two Auckland gangs, Hell's Angels and Headhunters.

The Filthy Few is also affiliated with the Magogs (Taranaki), Titans and Outcasts (Waikato) and Greasy Dogs (Bay of Plenty).

It does not cooperate with Highway 61, the largest motorcycle gang in New Zealand, which is affiliated with the Tribesmen from Auckland and with Australian syndicates.

Detective Inspector Graham Bell said the gang network in New Zealand, estimated to comprise between 25,000 and 30,000 people, was more organised than most people realised. Although rival gangs would not normally cooperate, when it came to "taking care of business" they were willing to work together for profit.

Two notable exceptions were the fiercely independent Mongrel Mob and Black Power gangs.

A source at national police headquarters confirmed that a number of gangs were doing "very well" financially and took pains to be discreet, avoiding wearing patches in public or travelling in groups.

"You just don't know - you could be talking to [a gang member] in a suit," he said.

Many of the 30 gang members and associates arrested in Rotorua this week were also arrested two weeks ago, in the first part of the police operation.

"These people have displayed an open contempt for the law and the courts," said Mr Bell. "They have gone directly back to dealing in drugs virtually within hours of getting bail on serious dealing charges."

As officers searched several of the properties yesterday, they took phone calls from people wanting to buy drugs.

Mr Bell said it had been a ground-breaking operation which illustrated the depth of the drug problem.

"I think we're just scratching the surface. Older police officers like me have seen a change in New Zealand society.

"Thirty years ago, drugs were relatively unheard of in New Zealand and most of our prominent criminals were involved in safe-blowing ... This should sound a clear and loud alarm bell for everyone."