Some follow drug busts wanting to relish in the crims getting bailed up, others like watching what quirky and interesting cars and other luxury goods get seized.
Police made 25 arrests across the 43 properties raided through Kawerau, Whakatane, and Opotiki as part of a big drug bust called Operation Notus. This included at least one property owned by a Mongrel Mob member, and most likely many more.
For all the gory details on that, click here for the NZ Herald story.
Among the seized property — which included guns, jet skis, boats (they're like jet skis but bigger), and motorbikes — are these three cars. A Ford F-150 Raptor, an AC Cobra, and what appears to be a Ford F100 pick-up.
The Cobra has perhaps seen better days, but appears to be a well primed project car. Whether it's genuine or not is unknown, but it looks like a nice period-correct restoration was on the cards given the generous white-text tyres and tasteful wheels.
The Raptor is a curious rarity for New Zealand. Of course, Ford don't sell them here new (let alone in right-hand drive), which makes them always a pleasant sight. This one's depicted in red and black ... maybe it was owned by a Crusaders supporter?
And then lastly there's a vintage American pick-up that we're pretty sure is a Ford F100.
It looks like it's already been restored, and judging by the marks up the sides it's something that's driven reasonably often. Though, noting the thick layer of dust on the bonnet — perhaps it hasn't been driven much lately.
The owner, whoever they are, clearly had a bit of a blue-oval fetish. And their taste in cars is hard to fault. Their taste in livelihood ... not so much.
"They have shown that they put profit above all else and have a complete disregard for how destructive methamphetamine is to the health and wellbeing of users,” Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Kevin Taylor said of those arrested.
"We are committed to protecting our communities from the harm caused by organised crime and today's arrests will go a long way to disrupting the supply of methamphetamine and cannabis in Kawerau and wider Bay of Plenty region.
"A major focus for us is to work closely with iwi and our partner agencies to offer advice and support services to victims of this group, and those who have been identified as users of these drugs."
