Police raid Rebels Motorcycle Club headquarters in Christchurch

 

Police have raided the Christchurch headquarters of the Rebels Motorcycle Club.
DEAN KOZANIC / FAIRFAXNZ

 

Police have raided the Christchurch headquarters of the Rebels Motorcycle Club.
 

Police are at the Christchurch headquarters of the Rebels Motorcycle Club after what appears to be a late night raid. 

Members of the armed offenders squad helped carry out a search warrant at the property on Vagues Rd, Papanui, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Armed police remained at the scene. Police are expected to release details about the raid shortly.

Rebels Motorcycle Club members at the 2013 launch of Dr Jarrod Gilbert's book Patched: The History of Gangs in New Zealand.
Don Scott
Rebels Motorcycle Club members at the 2013 launch of Dr Jarrod Gilbert's book Patched: The History of Gangs in New Zealand.
 

In 2011, it was announced the Rebels, which is one of Australia's largest gangs, had moved into New Zealand. The bikie gang quickly spread throughout the country. They previously had a pad in Racecourse Rd, Christchurch, but were forced out because of insurance issues.

It Is understood the gang still has a group of patched members in the city.

A resident who lives near the Rebels' Vagues Rd headquarters said the gang had caused few issues in the street. He heard motorcycles most days, but rarely saw patched members of the group.

 

 - Stuff