Southland gang members sentenced over shootings and violent assaults

Police arrested multiple people in Operation Pakari which resulted in six gang members being handed prison sentences.

Six gang members have been sentenced for several violent offences in Southland in 2022 as a result of a police operation.

The sentences handed down in the High Court at Christchurch to Mongrel Mob members range from three years and four months to six years in prison.

Operation Pakari was launched by Southland Police in response to a range of violent crimes, starting in January 2022 and continuing for multiple months.

The crimes included drive-by shootings and violent assaults that left people critically injured.

The operation concluded in June 2023 and police said a number of people had been arrested.

“The sentencing of all six offenders sends a clear message to organised crime groups that behaviour like this will not be tolerated in our community,” said Area Commander Southland Inspector Mike Bowman.

“Those who choose to offend in this way, causing this type of harm, can expect to be held accountable.”

Police also said that Operation Pakari has contributed to a decline in offences since June 2023.

“The operation is a great piece of work that’s happened in the Southland policing area,” said Inspector Bowman, “which has seen a 17% reduction in overall offences since June 2023.”