Police Crack Down on Gang Insignia at Funeral

A funeral for a prominent Mongrel Mob member was disrupted yesterday as police cracked down on gang insignia, leading to three arrests and several other charges.

**Funeral Disrupted by Police Checks**

The funeral procession was met with roadblocks set up by police, causing delays and frustration among mourners. A local kuia (elder) had to yell at police to move the first checkpoint outside a cemetery, calling it “disrespectful.”

“It’s not right for them to be doing that,” she said. “We’re just here to pay our respects, we don’t want any trouble with the police.”

However, despite the disruption, there was an “outpouring of anger” from the community towards the Mongrel Mob and its members.

**Arrests and Charges**

Three men were arrested for wearing gang insignia, including a patched member of East Side. A 32-year-old man was also arrested on shoplifting charges after allegedly trying to pass counterfeit currency at a Tauranga store.

In addition, a 30-year-old driver was arrested and had his vehicle seized for alleged dangerous driving.

**Police Crackdown**

Police said they had been running checkpoints across Bay of Plenty, watching as the funeral procession drove through Tauranga. Three motorbikes were also seized after allegedly being used to disrupt traffic and block roads across the city.

“We’re committed to keeping our communities safe,” a police spokesperson said. “We will not tolerate any disruption to traffic or public order.”

**Conclusion**

The arrests and charges are a reminder of the ongoing struggle between law enforcement and organized crime groups in New Zealand. While the funeral was disrupted, it is clear that police are taking steps to crack down on gang activity.

As one local resident said, “It’s about time someone did something about this stuff. We can’t just sit back and let these gangs run our cities.”

Police have confirmed that the three men arrested for wearing gang insignia were due in Tauranga District Court on December 2.

The funeral procession was eventually able to continue, with many attendees paying their respects to the deceased before the disruptions caused by police checks.