Patched King Cobra gang members have been charged after allegedly posing outside the Auckland High Court on the day the Gangs Act 2024 came into force.
Police had been investigating an early breach of the prohibition of gang insignia in public after a photo was posted online outside the court on November 21.
Six men, aged between 28 and 58, have been charged with the prohibited display of a gang patch and had their patches seized by police.
Half a dozen search warrants were executed across Auckland and Waikato this morning, unearthing drugs, firearms and other items of interest to police, a spokesperson said.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said one warrant at an Auckland address led to further discoveries.
“Police located a person of interest in the investigation, arresting him and seizing his patch.
“During a search warrant conducted at that address we recovered two firearms along with ammunition, and that man has been charged accordingly.”
Baldwin said another man at this property was allegedly in possession of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.
“We will also allege this man was present in the photo posted in social media and he has had his patch seized.”
Four men – aged 28, 34, 38, and 58 – will appear in Auckland District Court on Christmas Eve.
A 44-year-old Hamilton man will appear in the Hamilton District Court on the same day.
Police said inquiries were ongoing to locate another Auckland man who had his patch seized in this morning’s warrants.
“We have a designated team of highly motivated investigators and further arrests are anticipated,” Baldwin said.
“The public display of gang patches or insignia is now illegal under new legislation, and we continue to remind gang members around consequences of choosing to breach these rules.
“This is an example of police continuing to follow up breaches, which has resulted in further and more serious charges, upon the discovery and seizure of firearms and illicit drugs.”