Ten arrested in massive drug bust
Luxury cars, Harley Davidsons, jewellery and $1 million in cash seized during raids on meth networks
Police have arrested 10 people and seized more than $1 million in cash and assets following a major operation targeting the supply and distribution of methamphetamine.
More than 150 staff executed search warrants yesterday at 17 residential and commercial properties throughout the wider Auckland, Canterbury and Southland districts.
The seizures took place across a number of Auckland suburbs including New Lynn, Blockhouse
Bay, Avondale, Manukau, Mt Eden, Grey Lynn, Karaka, Greenlane, Manurewa and Northcote, with search warrants also executed in Avonside, Christchurch and central Dunedin.
The warrants are part an operation dubbed Operation Maddale, run by
the National Organised Crime Group. Operation Maddale is a 10-month investigation into the supply and distribution of methamphetamine and subsequent money laundering throughout the country.
To date the investigation has seized 20kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of more than $12 million.
More than $550,000 in cash was also seized, along with several highend vehicles including a Porsche Macan, Jeep Wrangler, three Harley Davidsons, a Ford Ranger, a Yamaha bike, and a jet ski.
Jewellery, including a necklace worth more than $70,000, was also seized.
In total, more than $1 million worth of cash and assets have been restrained. The National Organised Crime Group’s Detective Inspector Greg Cramer said the seizures and arrests had disrupted a sophisticated methamphetamine network within New Zealand.
“This drug has a devastating impact on our communities and affects countless Kiwi families. The seizure of 20kg of methamphetamine will prevent significant further harm to those families,” he said.
Cramer said police were determined to take the profit out of the supply of the harmful drug.
Ten people aged between 21 and 42 will face more than 70 charges between them, including supply of methamphetamine, possession for supply of methamphetamine, money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group. They are due to appear in the Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin District Courts this week.
This investigation remains ongoing and police cannot rule out further seizures and arrests.