More arrested in southern mob stabbings

At least 20 people have now been arrested and 85 charges filed following a wide-ranging police investigation into the Southern hybrid mob.

Police announced this morning that 20 warrants had been executed this week in Mataura, Gore, Invercargill, Dunedin and Hamilton in the North Island.

“All of the arrestees had ties to the mongrel mob, with the most serious charges including attempted murder,” said Inspector Mike Bowman, the Southland area commander.

Arrests have also been made across Southland, Auckland and Hawke’s Bay as part of Operation Pacari, a Southland-based violent crime-focused forced termination.

Bowman said an investigation was ongoing and police could not rule out further arrests or charges.

Those arrested have either appeared in court or are expected to appear in Invercargill District Court in the next few days, he said.

He said the operation involved a number of related incidents over several months.

“The first of these incidents occurred in late January 2022, sparking further violent crimes, including shootings from vehicles and violent assaults that have resulted in serious injuries,” he said.

“Since then, I am truly proud of the painstaking work our investigative and frontline teams have done to hold these criminals to account.”

About 50 staff from across the Southland and Southern Region supported the operation, including armed criminal squads based in Invercargill and Dunedin and members of the North Island-based National Organized Crime Group.