Kiwi crime gang Mongrel Mob invades Queensland

ONE of the world’s most fearsome crime gangs has set up a chapter in southeast Queensland, leading to fears of an outbreak of violence. And no VLAD laws can stop them.

Kiwi crime gang invades Queensland

ONE of the world’s most fearsome crime gangs has invaded Queensland.

The Mongrel Mob, originally from the tough backstreets of New Zealand, has launched a Gold Coast chapter which is now on a collision course with Queensland’s anti-gang taskforce.

Police say they are a “vile” criminal gang known for their brutality, and fear a fresh outbreak of violence on the Glitter Strip.

In the past fortnight large gatherings of Mongrel Mob members have taken place in broad daylight on the Gold Coast and at Logan and Eagleby.

Last weekend a group was spotted wearing Mongrel Mob gang colours at the Broadwater Parklands, an open space in the heart of Southport hugely popular with families.

Police are now investigating claims of threatening behaviour ­towards a park security guard.

However, while the controversial Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws can for now limit public gatherings of any more than two members of declared criminal gangs, there are no powers for outfits not on the list.

Deputy Opposition Leader and Gold Coast MP John-Paul Langbroek said the emergence of new gang threats showed the VLAD laws needed to be expanded, not watered down as the State Government is considering.

Fierce rivals of the Black Power gang in New Zealand, Mongrel Mob members make up more than 10 per cent of prisoners in the country’s jail system.

They first appeared in Melbourne about three years ago and have been linked to drug trafficking and other crime.

The gang lists its Gold Coast headquarters as Mongrelism Road in Surfers Paradise, a fictional ­address.

However, Taskforce Maxima commander Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said their threat was real.

“They are a vile criminal gang known for their brutality,” he said. “If they commit criminal offences we will be relentless in our pursuit of them.

“Our community does not need the Mongrel Mob and we will do our best to disrupt and dismantle them.”

Mr Langbroek said the VLAD laws, introduced by the former LNP government, had been vital in stunting the growth of gangs.

“We introduced the laws with the view they could be expanded or evolved, but now there is the prospect that they could be scrapped altogether,” he said.

A review into the VLAD laws by retired Judge Alan Wilson is due to be handed down next month.