Police seize King Cobra patches, charge gang members after social media post outside court

Six King Cobra gang members have been arrested after they posted a photo on social media wearing gang insignia outside court. Photo / Police

Six King Cobra gang members have wound up back in court after allegedly posing with their gang insignia outside one.

Police have been investigating an early breach of the gang insignia prohibition law, after a photo was posted to social media from outside the High Court in Auckland on November 21.

Six King Cobra gang members have been arrested after they posted a photo on social media wearing gang insignia outside court. Photo / Police

Early on Friday half a dozen warrants were executed across Auckland and Waikato.

Six men aged between 28 and 58 have now been charged with the prohibited display of their patches.

Police have seized six King Cobra patches.

On top of that, the search warrants uncovered firearms and what’s suspected to be methamphetamine.

Weapons were seized during a search warrant. Photo / Police

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, from Auckland City CIB, said one warrant at an Auckland address led to further discoveries.

“Police located a person of interest in the investigation, arresting him and seizing his patch,” he said.

“During a search warrant conducted at that address, we recovered two firearms along with ammunition, and that man has been charged accordingly.”

Seized King Cobra patch. Photo / Police

But that wasn’t the end of it.

“Another man was at this property, who was allegedly in possession of a quantity of a substance believed to be methamphetamine,” Baldwin said.

Police allege this man was present in the photo posted on social media. His patch was also seized.

Four men – aged 28, 34, 38 and 58 – have been bailed to appear on their charges at the Auckland District Court on December 24.

A 44-year-old Hamilton man is also scheduled to appear in the Hamilton District Court on that date.

Inquiries are ongoing to locate another Auckland man after his patch was seized in this morning’s search warrants.

The 31-year-old, arrested on possession for supply of methamphetamine, is expected to appear in the Auckland District Court today.

King Cobra vest. Photo / Police

Baldwin said the investigation is by no means over.

“We have a designated team of highly motivated investigators and further arrests are anticipated,” the detective said.

“The public display of gang patches or insignia is now illegal under new legislation, and we continue to remind gang members around consequences of choosing to breach these rules.

“This is an example of police continuing to follow up breaches, which has resulted in further and more serious charges, upon the discovery and seizure of firearms and illicit drugs.”

Katie Oliver is a Christchurch-based multimedia journalist and breaking news reporter.