Trio face conspiracy to supply meth charges

Three people were arrested on Tuesday as part of an ongoing operation targeting methamphetamine dealers in Taranaki.

The arrests come after a series of raids on Labour Day by the region’s organised crime group where three people were arrested while police seized drugs, cash, vehicles and cordoned off the New Plymouth office of Fowler Homes.

A 28-year-old woman, a

25-year-old man, and a 38-year-old man, all from North Taranaki, have been charged with conspiracy to supply methamphetamine, along with a number of other drug-related charges.

All three were to appear in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday.

Two New Plymouth men, aged

42 and 37, who are already in custody for other matters, have also been charged with conspiracy to supply methamphetamine.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Matuku said the arrests demonstrate the police commitment to protecting the community from the serious harm caused by organised crime and methamphetamine.

‘‘The physical and social carnage that methamphetamine causes to our communities is unacceptable and we are committed to lessening that harm and holding those responsible to account,’’ Matuku said. ‘‘It is not only the users that are harmed by the drug, but also the wider community and local businesses.’’

He said any form of drug use had a detrimental impact on the individual, their family and the wider community. It could drive many aspects of reported and unreported crime including family harm, dishonesty crime and serious assaults.