Enforcement agencies end 18 month operation today

An operation by OFCANZ and Tasman District Police ended with an early morning raid on the Red Devil gang headquarters in Nelson today.

By early afternoon 15 members of the gang or their associates had been arrested and over 20 search warrants executed.

Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess, head of OFCANZ said today's raid ended the 18 month-long Operation Explorer and was a further outcome of a concerted national focus on fighting organised crime.

"When OFCANZ was established in 2007 we said nothing would happen overnight and that we were in this for the long term results."

"We are now seeing the results of a whole range of agencies working together to disrupt and dismantle organised criminal networks in this country.

"Police and OFCANZ were assisted by customs, NZDF and other agencies in the course of Operation."

"We are particularly grateful for Defence Force assistance given the pressing commitments they have at the moment both domestically and internationally."

Today's activities follow a successful police operation in Palmerston North last month targeting the Rebels Motorcycle Gang.

"We have said we will keep coming. We want gangs to know that we have them firmly in our sights."

"This has disrupted the work of the Red Devils, an organised criminal network that passes itself off as a "social club" but which is basically a training ground for would-be Hells Angels," Mr Burgess said.

Members of the Hells Angels gang were also feeling the effects of having their trainee gang infiltrated, with warrants carried out in Auckland at the same time.