King Cobras (gang)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Founded | 1950s |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Ethnicity | Polynesian |
| Membership (est.) | 400[1] |
| Criminal activities | Drug dealing, assault, murder |
| Allies | Bloods, Crips, Black Power, Central Auckland street gangs |
The King Cobras are a prominent Pacific gang in New Zealand.[2]
The King Cobras were founded by Samoans in Ponsonby sometime in the 1950s, making them the oldest gang in New Zealand.[3] Initially, it was restricted to Samoans, but has since accepted other Polynesians.[3] The King Cobras have had a presence across South, Central,[4] North[5] and West Auckland,[6] Hutt Valley, Wellington,[7] Dunedin[8] and Christchurch.[9]
The Cobras have proven to be very violent[3] and have a history of possessing firearms.[10] They have been involved in major cases of drug dealing,[3] including in methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.[6] In 2003, members of the King Cobras ran a large methamphetamine ring along with the Head Hunters in one of Aucklands biggest drug cases.[11][12] The King Cobras have been involved in several murder cases, including that of a 15-year-old boy,[13] and the shooting of a rival gang member, as part of a membership process.[14]
