(file image) Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
More arrests have been made as part of a Southland-based police operation targeting violent offending.
Earlier this week, police said 11 males aged between 16 and 43 with links to the Mongrel Mob gang had been arrested and faced charges including attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and firearms offences.
Arrests have been made across Southland, and in Auckland and Hawke's Bay.
In an update on Saturday, police said there were now at least 20 people with links to the Mongrel Mob arrested as part of Operation Pakari, and they face 85 charges.
Those arrested have either already appeared in court or are due to appear in Invercargill District Court in coming days.
Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said they believed the incidents related to the charges were connected over several months.
"The first of these incidents was in late January 2022, which spurred further violent offending in the form of drive-by shootings, and violent assaults which left people with critical injuries."
Specialist family liaison officers also had been engaged to look after the people left behind in households where arrests were made, Bowman said.
Although Operation Pakari has wrapped up this week, police said inquiries were still ongoing and they could not rule out further arrests or charges.
They said there would be extra police patrols across Southland for the next few weeks to provide reassurance to the community.
