Northland District Headquarters
88 Cameron Street, Whangärei
Thursday July 10, 2014
Police across the Mid North have arrested 31 people in the last two months as they focus on drug related and stolen
property offending in the area.
Kaikohe Police Detective Sergeant Chris Fouhy says the recent arrests continue to highlight the involvement of gangs,
and people involved in the drug trade, in criminal offending such as drug dealing, burglary, aggravated robbery and
theft of motor vehicles.
"We will continue to pursue those who chose to be part of gangs or criminal groups and who choose to commit crime such
as drug dealing, robbery and stealing and receiving stolen property."
Mr Fouhy says stolen property often ends up in the hands of these drug dealers as payment from their customers.
"The people buying drugs or wanting to work their way into gangs commit crimes such as burglaries, robberies and the
like to pay for their habits or earn kudos from senior gang members. They make hard working law abiding citizens victims
of their crimes."
"The other victims of these drug dealers are their children and the children of the people buying and using these drugs.
Money is spent on their habits rather than feeding their kids, putting clothes on their back, shoes on their feet and
sending them to school well nourished and healthy. Kids are often subjected to dangerous conditions by people
manufacturing and dealing drugs and are neglected by those using drugs".
If you are someone who is addicted to drugs there are services out there that can help you. Contacting your local
Citizen's Advice Bureau, Drug Alcohol Helpline 0800 787 797 or police station for advice on who to talk to is a step in
the right direction.
Mr Fouhy says the message from Kaikohe Police is simple, if you chose to deal in or manufacture drugs, steal in our area
or harm others by committing crime you will face the consequences of your actions. We are actively targeting people
involved in drug dealing, burglary, vehicle theft and gangs. We will be coming for you if continue to offend and we will
not stop."
Police would like to thank local people who have assisted in providing information
about offending in the area via the Crimestoppers phone number (0800 555 111).
"Many of the recent results would not have been possible without the public’s assistance and we ask for your continued
support."
If you have information about criminal offending including drug dealing in your area please contact Kaikohe Police
station 09 405 2960, your local Police station or if you wish to remain anonymous call the Crimestoppers.
Recent arrests of note since late May include:
• On the May 23 a 53-year-old male was arrested for possession of cannabis for supply after a search at a Kaikohe
address, which has strong links to the Black Power and Tribesmen gangs. Another male, aged 52 years, was arrested for
possession of cannabis and possession of utensils.
• On the June 6 two women, aged 35 and 36 years, were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery after an
incident that occurred at a Kaikohe business on the May 29 this year. Police suspect this crime was committed to pay a
drug debt.
• On May 30 a 50-year-old male Mongrel Mob associate was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for
supply, selling cannabis and possession of methamphetamine after a series of search warrants were executed at Kaikohe
addresses. Another 19-year-old man was arrested and charged for unlawful possession of ammunition. A 39-year-old patched
Tribesmen gang member was also arrested on a warrant issued from the Kaikohe District Court.
• Also on May 30 a 24-year-old male patched Tribesmen gang member was charged with unlawfully taking a motor
vehicle and unlawfully interfering with another motor vehicle in the Kaikohe CBD.
• On June 5 Police arrested and charged a 31-year-old Kaikohe man in relation to a series of burglaries in the
Tauranga Bay area. A 26-year-old co-offender was arrested and charged with burglary on July 1. Both males have strong
ties to the Tribesmen and Mongrel Mob gangs.
• On June 10 two men, aged 43 and 47 years, were charged with receiving stolen copper from a building site in
central Kaikohe.
• On June 11 a 47-year-old man was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis, receiving stolen property
(stolen I Pad from a Kaikohe address) and unlawful possession of cannabis after a search of an Ömapere address. Police
also located what they suspect was a significant quantity of the Class A controlled drug methamphetamine. A 33-year-old
woman was also arrested at the address for receiving a stolen laptop.
• On June 13 police arrested and charged a 44-year-old man with possession of methamphetamine and cannabis after
the search of a vehicle in Ömapere.
• On June 17 police arrested two men, aged 17 and 22 years, in relation to a series of burglaries committed in the
Opononi / Ömapere area.
• On June 18 a 34-year-old male was arrested and charged with numerous fraud related offences and receiving a
stolen motor vehicle.
• On June 20 a 23-year-old male patched Tribesmen gang member was arrested and charged with unlawfully taking
three motor vehicles from around the Kaikohe and Whangärei areas.
• On June25 a 33-year-old male patched Black Power member was arrested and charged with theft. An 18-year-old male
was also charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle from Wellsford.
• On June 26 police arrested and charged a 32-year-old Auckland man at an Okaihau address in relation to six
thefts from various retailers around the Mid North. At the same address police also arrested a 28-year-old woman with
receiving stolen property from one of the thefts and jointly charged her along with a 31-year-old man with possession of
cannabis for supply, possession of equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine
and possession of utensils used in the consumption of methamphetamine. The people at this address have strong ties to
the Black Power gang.
• On June 30 an 18-year-old Kaikohe woman was arrested and charged with receiving a television stolen from a
Dargaville address. A 44-year-old woman was also arrested after a warrant had been issued for her arrest by the Kaikohe
District Court.
• On July 4 police executed two search warrants at addresses in Kaikohe. As a result a 20-year-old woman and
44-year-old man were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis for supply, possession of utensils used in the
consumption of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of ammunition. At a second address a 34-year-old man was arrested
and charged with possession of cannabis, possession of utensils and offering to supply cannabis.
• On July 8 a 22-year-old Kaikohe man was arrested and charged for unlawfully taking two motor vehicles.
• Kaikohe Police have also arrested a 25-year-old male patched Rebel gang member on three occasions between the
May 26 and June 27 for arrest warrants issued by the Kaikohe District Court.