Police have seized more than $1 million in assets which include five properties, in the Southern police district, it has been revealed.
Since the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act took effect on December 1, 2009, two residential properties in the Southern district have been made subject to forfeiture orders.
The properties had a combined estimated value of $400,000.
New Zealand Police financial crime group performance analyst Dr Jenny Walker told the Otago Daily Times in addition to those assets, police held restraining orders for a further four assets.
Those assets were for three residential properties and one vehicle, which had a combined estimated value of $630,000.
One property that has been forfeited to the Crown is the former Mongrel Mob property on Middleton Rd, which was the first property seized by police in the South and the second in New Zealand.
The property was seized after an operation targeting drug-dealing by the gang, and was later sold at auction for $74,000 despite having a rateable value of $195,000.
The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act allowed for the proceeds of crime to be forfeited to the Crown based on the civil standard of proof (balance of probabilities) rather than being solely dependent on securing a criminal conviction.
Court cases would decide whether the assets would be forfeited to the Crown.
Police Minister Judith Collins said she was advised the Act was having a "substantial and rising" effect on organised crime and drug offending.
