Gang Member Sentenced to Prison After Cache of Illegal Firearms Found, New Zealand

A notorious gang member has been sentenced to prison after illegal firearms, magazines, and ammunition were discovered at his partner’s residence in Blockhouse Bay. Daniel Vae, previously convicted for pointing a crossbow at a woman and vandalizing her property, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison last year. However, during a recent search warrant, police found a semi-automatic rifle, a sawn-off rifle, and rounds of ammunition hidden in the residence. Vae’s defense lawyer requested a non-custodial sentence, but the judge deemed prison necessary due to his extensive criminal history. Vae has a long association with gangs and a record of 44 convictions dating back to 1996. Another person has been charged as an alleged straw buyer in the ongoing police investigation. Despite claiming to have severed ties with gangs, Vae continues to engage in violent crimes. Today’s sentence of 17 months comes with a probation report assessing him as a moderate to high risk of reoffending.