Police seize $1.2m, guns and drugs in gang raids
Up to $1.2 million in cash, class A drugs and firearms were seized by police in raids on gangs as the country was under coronavirus lockdown.
While most New Zealanders hunkered down in late March, authorities continued efforts to crack down on organised crime, police have reported.
More than 100 search warrants around the country resulted in nearly 50 firearms being seized and more than 90 people being arrested in the past two months and over the period of alert levels 4 and 3.
Gangs targeted in that time were the Comancheros, Mongrel Mob, Black Power, Nomads, Head Hunters, Rebels, King Cobras, Mongols and the Tribesmen.
In all, 25kg of methamphetamine, 30kg of cannabis and small amounts of cocaine and other drugs such as MDMA, GBL and LSD were seized.
Police also discovered 14 clandestine drug-producing laboratories and what they described as a “substantial amount” of chemicals and equipment relating to the manufacture of meth.
Police also found $1.2m in cash in the raids. Those arrested face more than 250 charges.
Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, who is the manager of the police’s national organised crime group, said: “The illicit activities these groups take part in cause immeasurable harm in our communities.”
The latest big operation — dubbed Operation Nestegg — ended earlier this month when five people were arrested after search warrants were carried out in Auckland and Tokoroa.
In that case, hundreds of dollars in cash was recovered, as well as methamphetamine and rifles.