Australians arrested
in Rebels gang raid
LEIGHTON KEITH
JONATHAN CAMERON/ Taranaki Daily
News
ORGANISED EFFORT: Detective
Inspector Chris Bensemann displays a
Rebels gang patch after yesterday's
raid.
Three members of an
Australian motorcycle gang were among 10
people arrested in armed police raids in New
Plymouth yesterday.
Police searched 13 New
Plymouth properties, one in Otaki, one in
Auckland and seven in Northland during
Operation Puff, a co-ordinated,
multi-district electronic surveillance
operation to stop the Rebels gang gaining a
foothold in New Zealand.
Ten people – eight men and
two women – were arrested in New Plymouth,
including the three patched Rebels members
and two associates.
Yesterday, six men and a
woman, appeared in the New Plymouth District
Court. They face charges from participating
in an organised criminal gang, conspiring to
supply methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy,
and cultivating cannabis, to theft of
electricity.
They are:
Nathan James Couper, in his
30s:
participating in a criminal group with two
others, conspiring to supply cocaine,
conspiring with seven others to supply
methamphetamine, cultivating cannabis,
conspiring with nine others to supply
ecstasy (MDMA), stealing electricity worth
between $500 and $1000 from Powerco.
Remanded in custody by consent until
Thursday.
A manager in his 30s, interim
name suppression:
participating in a criminal gang,
cultivating cannabis, theft of electricity.
In custody by consent.
Dallas Francis Hikaka, 41, a
nurse:
participating in a criminal gang, conspiring
to supply methamphetamine, cultivating
cannabis. Remanded in custody by consent to
Thursday.
Michael George Green, 38,
process operator:
conspiring to supply methamphetamine and
ecstasy. Remanded on bail to September 15.
Ryan Blackburn, 24, labourer:
conspiring to supply methamphetamine and
ecstasy. Released on curfew to September 15.
Atamu Lee Manuel, 23, Crave
Club DJ:
conspiring to supply ecstasy. Remanded on
bail to September 15.
Nateesha Angelica Moke, 23,
unemployed:
conspired to supply ecstasy and
methamphetamine. Remanded on bail to
September 15.
The operation is the second
crackdown on the gang. The first operation
was in February and resulted in more than 30
arrests across five North Island districts.
Vehicles, cash, firearms, gang patches and
drugs were seized.
In New Plymouth yesterday,
police discovered two cannabis growing
operations, at separate properties.
They seized eight grams of
white powder believed to be benzylpiperazine
(BZP), and an imitation rifle.
Detective Inspector Chris
Bensemann said police believed the Rebels
were involved in the distribution of
methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis and BZP
in Taranaki and Northland.
"What speaks volumes is that
the three identified patched Rebels members
in New Plymouth have been arrested and
charged with serious drug offences," Mr
Bensemann said.
At one property, police found
50 young cannabis plants.
Mr Bensemann said police
wanted to stop the Rebels gaining a
stronghold in New Zealand.
"What concerns us, both
locally and nationally, is their intention
to recruit. The arrival of the Australian
Rebels and their continued recruitment is
not only a Central District police priority
but remains an ongoing national focus," he
said.
"Back in February we made it
clear that we would not tolerate criminal
gangs pedalling misery in our communities.
"We don't want them in New
Zealand, let alone New Plymouth."
There are believed to be
about 70 patched Rebels members in New
Zealand.
Nationally police made 22
arrests, including one high-ranking Rebel
gang member in Northland who has been
charged with unlawful possession of a
firearm – a loaded cut-down .22 pump action
gun which was hidden in his home.
More arrests are anticipated
over the coming weeks.
Other charges include
conspiracy to supply methamphetamine,
cocaine and ecstasy, cannabis cultivation,
drug possession and participation in an
organised criminal group.
Crackdown on
Rebels gang
An ongoing police
crackdown on the Rebel
motorcycle club has resulted in
further arrests. Photo / APN
Police have seized cash,
cannabis, computers, one shotgun and
twenty-two people in a nationwide raid
on the Rebels Motorcycle Club.
Most of the arrested
Rebels' members were caught by police in
New Plymouth and Northland following
months of planning.
Detective Inspector Chris
Bensemann (Field Crime Manager, Central
District) said today's raids were a
major blow to the Rebels, who claim to
be a family-friendly and law-abiding
motorbike club.
"This makes a mockery of
their statements that they're a family
gang,'' Bensemann said.
"I think what this shows
is that their presence in New Zealand is
purely motivated by criminal offending
and their involvement in the
distribution of methamphetamine.''
He said police have
learned many lessons this year and are
building on knowledge gained in earlier
raids.
The Rebels are relatively
new arrivals from Australia but have
already attracted police attention on
multiple occasions.
Today's operations were a
sequel to Operation Stamp, which netted
firearms, drugs, cash and over 30
arrests back in February.
Local Rebels' members
have regular contact with their
Australian colleagues, according to
Bensemann.
He said prospective
Rebels members should reconsider their
career options.
"The message I'd pass on
is if you're thinking of joining, think
twice. Join them and you can expect the
attention of Police.''
Bensemann said the
operation would take methamphetamine off
the streets and would be welcomed by
drug-ravaged communities.
"What offends me about
the Rebels in particular is that they're
not restricted to selling drugs to
adults. Those drugs make their way to
our teenagers and young people.''
Rebels MC spokespeople in
Australia were unavailable for comment
this evening.
