$30 million drug bust in Auckland

Thirty kilograms of methamphetamine, with a street value of up to $30 million, has been uncovered by police in Auckland.

Wednesday night’s bust was part of police investigation Operation Sweden, which began in Wairarapa.

Six people were arrested overnight and were to appear in court yesterday.

Acting Wairarapa area commander Inspector Scott Miller said the arrests came as the operation broadened out from the lower North Island and went national.

‘‘The arrests came from the operation, but a part of that was looking at a supply of methamphetamine on a national level.’’

He said it was the largest seizure a Wellington-based police operation had uncovered. ‘‘We were expecting a goodsized haul but this is beyond our expectations. It’s worth between $20m and $30m, depending on how it’s sold.’’

Operation Sweden was co-ordinated by the Wairarapa criminal investigation branch and the Wellington organised crime group.

‘‘The people involved were on the radar before last week’s operation,’’ Miller said.

One person was arrested in Wairarapa with 142 grams of meth and $3000 in cash. Another was arrested in Wellington with 14g of meth and $40,000, while a third was found in Auckland with some 30kg of meth and more than $40,000 in cash.

Eighteen people were arrested in Wellington and Wairarapa last week after large quantities of methamphetamine were uncovered.

‘‘At this point, Operation Sweden has been completed but, obviously, inquiries in Auckland will continue,’’ Miller said.

‘‘This takes out a major group of methamphetamine dealers that weren’t previously known to us.’’