A “significant blow” has been dealt to drug supply and manufacture by the Greazy Dogs MC this week, police say.
Police arrested several members and associates of the gang, and restrained more than $1.5 million in assets.
Thirty-five search warrants were carried out at properties across Tauranga on June 17 and 18, including at the Greazy Dogs MC pad.
Police said those arrested as a result of the warrants included “senior members” of the gang, “including the national vice president and the sergeant at arms”.
Police Detective Inspector Albie Alexander said the arrests marked a successful culmination of a National Organised Crime Group operation which began in late 2024.
“This operation – Operation Kingtide – identified the Greazy Dogs MC as controlling the methamphetamine supply across the western Bay of Plenty, through local manufacture.”
Police said firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, cannabis and approximately $25,000 in cash was located during the searches.
“In addition, Police’s Asset Recovery Unit has restrained more than $1.5 million of assets to date, including two residential properties, two cars and three motorcycles.
“Further search warrants are being carried out this week and more arrests and charges are likely.”
Alexander said he was “confident we have dealt a significant blow to the Greazy Dogs’ methamphetamine operation, and the supply of methamphetamine in the Western Bay of Plenty”.
“Police will continue to focus on the enforcement and disruption of such criminal groups, who are dealing primarily in the sale and supply of methamphetamine into our most vulnerable communities.”
Team present to support families
Police said a team from the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities, or ROCC, was also present after the searches and seizures.
The team “takes a multi-agency approach to help address the social conditions that feed the emergence or growth of organised crime, and the harms that flow from it”.
“Op Manawaroa (Resilience) has run alongside Operation Kingtide and is led by Bay of Plenty ROCC, with assistance from other ROCC regions including Eastern, Southern and Porirua.”
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said the ROCC team visited homes after search warrants have been executed, “looking to engage and support families and whānau of those arrested”.
“Our local ROCC team, with the support of other police harm prevention work groups, local agencies, iwi and community partners, will continue to work with families and whānau of those affected. This is a long-term approach to prevention and in response to mitigating and preventing further harm and offending.”
Five arrested and charged
- A 25-year-old Tauranga man, charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine
- A 34-year-old Mt Maunganui man, charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine for supply
- A 34-year-old Papamoa man, charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession for supply of methamphetamine
- A 33-year-old Mt Maunganui man, charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for supply, and conspiring to supply cocaine
- A 37-year-old Tauranga man, charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine for supply.