Control of more than a million dollar in assets, including a whole forestry block, has been seized from a senior member of the Maketu Mongrel Mob.
In a statement police said they'd secured the forfeiture of $1.17 million in property under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, from Valentine Nicholas, who lives in the Bay of Plenty.
This follows a High Court judgment issued last week on the back of two criminal trials where Mr Nicholas was facing charges of money laundering.
Justice Hinton in the Tauranga High Court found the senior gang member was unable to show evidence of a "legitimate source of income" for a number of years.
It ruled his assets, to the value of $1.17m, had been gained through criminal offending.
Detective Inspector Paul Hampton said it was a decision that would help protect the Bay of Plenty community.
"Police believe the forfeiture of these assets will have a significant impact on preventing harm in the Bay of Plenty community by ensuring profits from criminal activity cannot be reinvested into future criminal activity.
"The judgment is a significant judgment and a reminder to all that absence of a criminal conviction does not prohibit the successful forfeiture of assets under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act."
