Firearms and drugs are being removed from the community in increasing volumes as Operation Cobalt ramps up Police focus on illegal gang activity.
In the process, Police have made numerous arrests in Auckland.
Detective Inspector Aaron Proctor says search warrants are being executed in suburbs across Auckland and these are beginning to yield results.
“Operation Cobalt is focused on holding people to account for their actions,” says Detective Inspector Proctor.
“With a heightened focus on illegal activity and other incidents that involved the use of violence and firearms in our community, we are identifying more offenders with alleged connections to gangs and are seeing prosecution action as a result.”
Detective Inspector Proctor says Police are sending a clear message to those committing this illegal activity that it will not be tolerated.
“Our focus is on reducing the prevalence of this sort of behaviour and those who are choosing to engage themselves in this should expect to come to our attention.”
ARREST OVER MT ROSKILL AGGRAVATED ROBBERY:
This week Operation Cobalt staff terminated a search warrant at a patched Head Hunter’s address in Te Atatū.
A 30-year-old man at the address was a person of interest to an investigation into an aggravated robbery that occurred in May, where a vehicle was stolen from a Mt Roskill address.
“A considerable number of items of interest were located during a search of the address, including gang paraphernalia,” says Detective Inspector Proctor.
“Two prohibited firearms were also seized, including a loaded MSSA. A rifle, a quantity of ammunition, along with cannabis and cocaine were also found at this man’s address.”
Police also found nearly $7000 in cash as well as the vehicle that had allegedly been stolen.
The 30-year-old is facing 20 charges in the Auckland District Court for serious offences.
Those charges include aggravated robbery, two counts of possession of a restricted firearm, possession of cocaine for supply as well as other charges for drugs, firearms and dishonesty offences.
DRUG DEALING TARGETED:
An important part of Operation Cobalt involves assistance from the eyes and ears of the community.
“We are continuing to assess information received from the public about illegal activity taking place in their community,” says Detective Inspector Proctor.
Two warrants were terminated recently in Manurewa and Ōtara in relation to reports of drug dealing taking place.
At an address in Ōtara, Police located nearly half a kilogram of cannabis as well as thousands of dollars in cash.
A Tribesmen patch was also found and seized by Police. A 25-year-old is facing a charge of possession of cannabis for supply and is before the Manukau District Court.
In Manurewa, Police located up to $12,000 worth of cannabis at one address along with a pistol.
The 25-year-old King Cobra prospect at the address is facing a possession for supply charge over the find.
He is also facing shoplifting charges in relation to other matters
HEAD HUNTER CHARGED FOLLOWING PAPAKURA INCIDENT:
Operation Cobalt assisted other Police staff in responding to a firearms incident in Papakura on 7 July.
While other tactical staff assisted in clearing the property and taking the offender into custody, Operation Cobalt conducted a search of the address.
Three rifles were located at the address, one of which was identified as being stolen in a burglary four years ago.
A 43-year-old man, a patched Head Hunter, was arrested and charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
CHARGES OVER AMMUNITION FOUND IN FLAT BUSH:
Disruption teams recently conducted a warrant at a Flat Bush address where a firearms incident occurred earlier this year.
Police had previously located around 100 rounds of ammunition at the address during a scene examination after the incident in late May.
“At the time the occupants were not located at the address,” says Detective Inspector Proctor.
“During this month’s search warrant, Operation Cobalt staff arrested a 31-year-old man, who has connections to the Killer Beez.”
He has been charged with unlawful possession of the ammunition. He is also facing drugs charges in relation to more than a kilogram of cannabis found in a vehicle at the address.
