[2] The King Cobras were founded by Samoans in Ponsonby sometime in the 1950s, making them the oldest gang in New Zealand.
[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.
[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.