28 FOR TRIAL ON DRUGS CHARGES

CHRISTCHURCH (NZPA) -- The top echelon of the Christchurch Mongrel Mob has
been committed to stand trial on methamphetamine and cannabis dealing charges.

Fourteen patched members of the Christchurch chapter of the gang -
including the president, acting president, vice-president and
sergeant-at-arms - were among 28 people charged following Operation
Crusade, a two-month police investigation into suspected drug dealing by
the gang.

At the end of a five-week depositions hearing in the Christchurch District
Court, all 28 defendants were committed to stand trial on a raft of charges
relating to methamphetamine - known as P in its pure form - and cannabis.

All but one of the gang members face methamphetamine charges, while most of
the 14 others only face cannabis charges.

The committal follows a series of guilty pleas from people implicated in
Operation Crusade, including a convicted drug dealer who appeared in the
High Court at Christchurch on Friday and was jailed for 21/2 years for
being one of the gang's main cannabis suppliers.