Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, September 7, 2023
Operation Cobalt has reached a milestone of 50,000 charges laid against gang members and associates, just over a year after it was launched. In the process, Police have removed more than 500 firearms from the wrong hands as part of the ongoing disruption of unlawful activity.
Introduced in June last year, the highly successful Operation Cobalt is focused on disrupting unlawful gang behaviour. It has had great success addressing serious offending and holding people who commit serious crimes to account.
Alongside enforcement, there continues to be a focus on prevention opportunities through various initiatives and inter-agency collaboration to reduce harm and address wider issues surrounding organised crime in communities.
Detective Superintendent Uraia Vakaruru, the National Controller for Operation Cobalt, said that the Police have continued to keep pressure on gangs, reinforcing that unlawful behaviour is not acceptable.
“Any violence or other unlawful gang activity has no place in our communities, and we have no tolerance for the harm that this inflicts on the public. Police have run large and visible operations keeping the movements and actions of gang members in check.”
“We have deployed staff across the country and also had checkpoints in operation. We have used disruption and targeting tactics with search warrants, arrests and seizures being made.”
Since the end of August, 50,396 charges have been laid against gang members and associates for offences which include violence, dishonesty, drugs and firearms offending. As of 31 August 2023, there were 1,369 Search warrants issued, 781 Warrantless searches, 50,396 Charges laid, 64,524 Infringements and 501 Firearms seized.
“We have seen results from right around the country since Operation Cobalt began,” Detective Superintendent Vakaruru said. “Whether that has been arrests and vehicles seized in the Far North, firearms seized in central Auckland suburbs, or gang members arrested moving through the South Island, Police have continued to target illegal behaviour being employed by gangs.”
The milestone is also a testament to Operation Cobalt staff targeting serious offending, as well as work being carried out every day by staff in a range of workgroups. “Alongside Operation Cobalt, each policing district runs their own operations and these fall within the priorities as part of our national unlawful gang activity focus,” Detective Superintendent Vakaruru said.
“I acknowledge the various teams that have had a part to play with this result, for their tenacity and professionalism in getting the job done. Police are continuously improving our processes and we continue to see enhanced information and intelligence sharing right across the country which assists with enforcement opportunities.”
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
