Dunedin Police Seize Mongrel Mob Aotearoa Gang Premises

Dunedin Police hope that today's seizure for the Crown of the gang premises of Mongrel Mob Aotearoa in Corstorphine will help to make the suburb a safer place to live.

"We hope today's events will go some way to contributing to a safer community in Corstorphine, a suburb where incidents of violence and intimidation have featured from time to time," said District Crime Services Manager, Detective Inspector Steve McGregor.

The premises were seized today as part of the culmination of Operation Rocket - a six-month investigation into organised criminal activity in Dunedin.

Police Armed Offender Squad (AOS) members and Detectives arrived at the premises at 250 Middleton Road, Corstorphine around 7.30am, executing warrants for illegal drugs and property, and seizing the address for the Crown under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009. This property is now under the control of the Official Assignee.

Police also set about dismantling parts of the premises, including areas of fencing around the property, alleged to have been constructed from stolen materials.

Two gang members were found at the premises at the time of the search warrant but entry was gained to the premises by Police without incident, although stun grenades were used by the AOS on entry. Located at the premises were two air rifles, an imitation pistol and a dangerously modified baseball bat.

One of those gang members has been arrested today and will be facing drug charges as part of Operation Rocket.

The seizure of the premises today brings this phase of Operation Rocket to a close, and follows on from the arrest of 11 Mongrel Mob Aotearoa members and associates on Wednesday and a further 7 members and associates on Thursday, all on charges relating to illegal drug activity.

"The presence of the gang premises in Middleton Road has contributed to a climate of fear in the local community - no doubt a factor in the publicity recently given to the significantly reduced role at Corstorphine School," Detective Inspector Steve McGregor said.

"Targeting organised crime and drugs is a high priority for Southern District Police and we will continue to pay attention to those who grow, manufacture and deal in illicit drugs, whoever they are," Detective Inspector Steve McGregor said.

"In Dunedin, Mongrel Mob Aotearoa has a history of being involved in the illegal distribution of controlled drugs. As police, we need to do what we can to disrupt these activities and to reassure the Dunedin and Corstorphine communities that their locality is a safe place for families and children to live in," he said.

"The tentacles of organised crime reach far into some of our communities and have a serious impact on the lives of the people who live there. As local police, we are resolute in placing a high priority on combating organised crime and playing our part to mitigate the damage it brings."