Police and Immigration agencies join forces to stop Mongols from entering the country.
The New Zealand Government has taken measures to prevent members of the Mongols gang from entering the country for an upcoming event in Canterbury. The Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford, have confirmed that they are working together with police, customs, and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to scrutinize travel and entry arrangements.
The Government is aware that international Mongols members with criminal histories may be planning to attend the event, which has sparked concerns about public safety. As a result, INZ will closely assess visa applications from foreign non-resident Mongols participants, excluding those with known criminal records under the Immigration Act 2009.
To address potential risks to public order, border alerts have been placed on known Mongols participants, and their visa-waiver status has been suspended. The Government aims to protect its borders and ensure public safety by working closely with police, customs, and international partners.