Fears gang merger will create new army of thugs

FAMOUS IN WEST AUCKLAND: DMS pose in a YouTube video.

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POLICE fear a notorious youth gang linked to the failed Housing New Zealand eviction is about to unite with an army of street thugs from another suburb to control turf across Auckland.

Heads of Avondale-based DMS (Dope Money Sex) have been seen meeting with senior members of south Auckland gang The Killer Bees - prospects for gang heavyweights the Tribesmen.

DMS gained national notoriety earlier this year when Housing New Zealand unsuccessfully tried to evict Sharon Salt -the mother of some of the gang's founding members -from a state house in Range View Rd, Owairaka.

Housing New Zealand told the Tenancy Tribunal the DMS members had been hanging around the property and "terrorising" neighbours. But the tribunal found in favour of Salt - a move HNZ is to appeal.

Avondale police youth analyst Landon Pearce said a DMS-Killer Bees merger would gain the smaller west Auckland gang street cred and protection.

"It's safety in numbers and, `Don't mess with us, we're associated with The Killer Bees'. It's something for them to boast if any other gang tries it on," Pearce said.

Otara senior sergeant, Andrew Berryman, said police there were aware of the possible union, which would create a 200-plus member youth gang.

"We've been hearing that for some time... but I need a bit more than association before I put some strength behind it," Berryman said.

The Killer Bees are "the most visible group in the (south Auckland) community" and created "a significant problem around volume crime", including burglary, dishonesty and drug offending, he said.

DMS were more basic but the gang has shown an aptitude for on-line promotion. They've posted a video clip of themselves - to a backing chorus of "F*** da police" -on YouTube as well as posting gang photographs on social networking sites like Bibo.

Three of Sharon Salt's sons -who no longer live with their mother - are facing charges including aggravated robbery, assault and burglary.

Eight other members of DMS have been charged with offences including:

A 17-year-old charged with abduction for sex, male rapes female under the age of 16, unlawful sexual connection and indecent assault.

A 20-year-old accused of numerous sexual offences against two young women.

A 22-year-old charged with breaking a youth's jaw by smashing him in the face with a baseball bat.

- © Fairfax NZ News