Police bust nine Black Power gang pads

Police stand guard outside the Black Power NZ Chapter headquarters in Mt Wellington. Picture / Richard Robinson

Senior Black Power gang members were rounded up yesterday in raids targeting a criminal enterprise police say is worth more than $1 million a year.

One hundred police staff executed search warrants at nine properties, including the Black Power New Zealand chapter headquarters in Jolson Rd, Mt Wellington.

Counties Manukau police said they had 15 "targets" who were all high-profile members of Black Power.

Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford, district crime manager, said police intelligence had estimated the gang was making in excess of $1 million a year out of crime.

"It is serious criminal offending and involves a lot of money. I'm referring to wholesale selling of cannabis here in South Auckland, in particular in the Mt Wellington, Otahuhu region, and the Mangere suburb."

Police yesterday seized "big quantities of cannabis" and recovered stolen property, he said.

Search warrants were executed at a number of "tinny houses" - homes where cannabis can be purchased by members of the public.

The raid at the Jolson Rd headquarters was halted when an explosive device was discovered and the Army called in to remove it.

Apart from a Black Power insignia, the two-level townhouse in Jolson Rd has the appearance of a normal family dwelling and one of the nicer homes in the street.

Police said the property served as the headquarters, clubrooms and a supposed boxing gym.

A local resident, who gave her name only as Donna, said she was having breakfast with gang members at the house when police turned up to execute a search warrant.

Donna said she knew most of the gang members through family connections or friendships, and said Jolson Rd was a safe street.

"You won't find many burglaries around here," she told the Herald.

She was surprised to hear a bomb had been found at the house.

"I don't think many people have been up there for a while."

Donna said police visited the property "quite often and haven't found any [cannabis]".

The titles to the headquarters and a gang compound in Hall Ave, Mangere, have gone to the Official Assignee as part of the Crown process to eventually apply for the gang's assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Motorcycles, cars and cash will also be claimed under the act, said police.

The Hall Ave property is surrounded by a concrete block wall and contains one main home, with an extension under construction, and another separate dwelling. The property has a large swimming pool.

Mr Rutherford said Operation Weaken would have a significant impact on the gang's operations.

"Every outfit has a hierarchy and that is what we're concentrating on here today.

"For years we've been chipping away ... instead of coming in from the bottom we have come in from the top. It will slow them down."

The Black Power bust was the first operation carried out by the district's new organised crime squad.

"I feel it's important that we send a message to the public that the police in this district are on the front foot in regards to pro-active policing and, given the resources to set up such squads as the organised crime group, this is an example of what we can achieve."

Mr Rutherford said there would be more operations targeting organised crime in the future.