Bat with nails found in gang member's car

A baseball bat with 15 nails protruding from it was found in the back of a car by Highway Patrol police targeting gang members.

The offensive weapon has been described by police as one of the worst home-made weapons they have seen.

The weapon was found in the back of a car being driven by an Auckland Black Power member passing through Rotorua on Saturday on his way to Gisborne.

Detective Sergeant Chris McLeod of the Highway Patrol pulled the man's car over on Te Ngae Rd, near Coulter Rd, east of Rotorua.



Mr McLeod said the weapon was "designed to do some serious damage".

The wooden bat had 15cm galvanised nails hammered in the end and had been reinforced with black insulation tape.

Senior Sergeant Ed Van Den Broek of the Rotorua Police Strategic Traffic Unit said the Highway Patrol was focusing on gang members as part of its duties.

Mr Van Den Broek said the new focus had paid off.

A Black Power member faces charges of possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon.

Meanwhile Highway Patrol staff near Te Puke on State Highway 2 stopped a car on Saturday and became suspicious when they could smell cannabis.

Two Mongrel Mob members were found to be in possession of cannabis as well as an array of other suspected illegal drugs, which have been sent away for testing.

A search of the vehicle found a sawn-off .22 rifle in the boot. Neither man admitted owning it. They have been charged with possession of drugs and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Mr Van Den Broek said the weekend's arrests were in line with other gang catches by the Rotorua Highway Patrol in recent weeks which had resulted in cars being impounded from disqualified or forbidden drivers and arrests for gang members driving stolen cars and other drug offending.

Mr Van Den Broek said gang members used the roads as other people did to do their business.

"This focus is helping restrict the movement of gang members on our roads and is keeping the roads safer for law-abiding people."


Mr Van Den Broek said Highway Patrol staff were not just about writing tickets for speeding drivers.

"We are all police officers at the end of the day, it doesn't matter which branch you're working in."