In a significant blow to organised crime in New Zealand, the Crown has secured a final forfeiture order for nearly $92,000 in cash seized from members of the Mongols Motorcycle Gang. The money, which includes a stash found at a Pāpamoa property, will now be redirected into community programmes designed to repair the harm caused by criminal offending.
The decision, handed down in the High Court, marks the latest chapter in Operation Silk, a long-running police investigation that has already resulted in the confiscation of money, vehicles and jewellery from gang members. The civil forfeiture action ran alongside the criminal prosecutions, a dual-track approach that has proven effective in stripping criminals of their ill-gotten gains.
Who was the money seized from?
The application was taken nominally against gang president Jim “JD” Thacker, who is currently serving a prison term of 22 years and four months. Thacker was convicted on 40 charges, including possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy for supply. However, the total sum includes $44,640 seized from a Pāpamoa house linked to Leon “the Wolf” Huritu, the gang's sergeant-at-arms.
Huritu is serving a 15-year sentence for drug-dealing and his role in the Waikeria Prison riot at New Year 2021, an event that caused an estimated $50 million in damage. Other gang members have been linked to the remaining cash, but notably, none has come forward to claim it.
What did the court decide?
Justice Michele Wilkinson-Smith ruled that the cash constituted “tainted property” under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009. In her decision, she noted that police had provided “more than sufficient evidence” that the Mongols were involved in serious criminal offending and that the cash was part of the proceeds of that offending.
The High Court decision highlighted that the persons in possession of the cash at the time of seizure made no claim to it and offered no legitimate explanation for its provenance. “There is no opposition from any respondent or interested party to the application for forfeiture,” the ruling stated.
How will the forfeited money be used?
The funds will now be added to a Ministry of Justice-administered pool, from which they can be allocated to approved organisations working to offset the harm caused by criminal activity. This mechanism ensures that assets stripped from criminals are reinvested into communities most affected by their actions, a pragmatic approach that aligns with broader efforts to address the root causes of offending.
Why is this significant for New Zealand?
Operation Silk has been a cornerstone of police efforts to dismantle the Mongols' operations in New Zealand. Before the crackdown, the gang had sparked conflict in the Bay of Plenty and Christchurch after influential members, deported from Australia as “501s”, established local chapters. A violent turf war in Tauranga, marked by at least six shootings and fire-bombings, erupted over control of the drug trade, echoing the Sydney gang wars that many of these deportees left behind.
This latest forfeiture sends a clear message: crime doesn't pay, and the proceeds of illicit activity will be redirected toward healing the very communities that suffer from it. As New Zealand continues to grapple with gang-related harm, such measures represent a tangible step toward justice and rehabilitation.
Ella Thompson is a senior writer at Newsealand, covering justice, social issues and progressive reform.