Weekend Herald

Pair on the run after $2.4m meth bust

- Anna Leask

Police are hunting two men linked to a multimilli­on-dollar methamphet­amine seizure at Auckland Internatio­nal Airport and say they are “actively avoiding” arrest.

Earlier this week police and customs arrested and charged two people following the seizure of 13.5kg of methamphet­amine at Auckland Internatio­nal Airport.

The drugs, which have a street value of around $2.4 million, were concealed within heavy steel machinery.

Police are now looking for Brent Nicholas Taylor, 43, and Kelly Eugene Edmonds, 37.

“We believe they can assist our investigat­ion,” said a police spokespers­on. “Both persons are part of an internatio­nal crime syndicate responsibl­e for the importatio­n and supply of methamphet­amine to New Zealand with links to the Comanchero­s and Filthy Few gangs.”

Taylor is described as being around 180cm and of medium build.

Edmonds is described as being 176cm and of medium build.

Both are known in the Waikato and Auckland areas and are actively avoiding police.

On Wednesday police revealed a

22-year-old Waikato man has been arrested and charged with importatio­n of the Class A controlled drug methamphet­amine after the National Organised Crime Group executed two search warrants.

“We have also charged a 48-yearold Auckland woman. She faces the same charge and they have both since appeared in court,” a spokespers­on said.

“It is clear that those involved were attempting to test the system . . . It didn’t work,” the spokespers­on said.

“We believe if this concealmen­t method had been successful, they would have attempted to use the same method to try and bring further significan­t amounts of this drug into New Zealand.”

 ??  ?? Kelly Edmonds (left) and Brent Taylor are being sought by police.
Kelly Edmonds (left) and Brent Taylor are being sought by police.

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