Police arrest 10 in $5m drug bust
Firearms and vehicles also seized as sting targets international ring
Police have seized up to $5 million worth of drugs in a major sting which also resulted in the arrest of 10 people. The operation targeted an international drug syndicate alleged to have imported more than a tonne of methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and ephedrine into New Zealand over three months.
Multiple firearms, including a military-style rifle, and highend vehicles were also seized.
Ten people aged between 28 and 57 were arrested in Operation Mystic. They face charges including money laundering and participating in an organised crime group.
They include New Zealand, Chilean, Italian, Brazilian and Filipino nationals.
A 31-year-old Kiwi man was arrested at the border in Italy on February 2 — he had allegedly been operating overseas since 2016.
Police believe he had been sending drugs to associates in New Zealand via multiple countries, using a variety of different ways to conceal the drugs.
Police say they have started the formal extradition process to bring the man back to the country to face 94 charges involving serious drug dealing, money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group.
The quantity of drugs allegedly imported by the syndicate is significant, said Detective Inspector Paul Newman of the National Organised Crime Group.
“New Zealanders are using about 13kg of methamphetamine a week, according to recent wastewater analysis, so a tonne of methamphetamine or its precursor ephedrine equates to more than a year’s worth of national consumption,” Newman said.
“By arresting and stopping this syndicate’s key player, along with his alleged associates, it will go a long way to reducing the amount of this drug being imported into New Zealand, and preventing the harm it causes to our communities.”
Six of the Kiwi man’s alleged associates living in New Zealand had also been arrested, with search warrants carried out throughout the Auckland region last week.
Eleven properties were searched in Auckland central, Henderson, Wairau Valley, West Harbour, Takanini, Waterview and Beach Haven.
Three other people also said to be part of the syndicate were arrested late last year.
Removing drugs from circulation was only part of the solution, Newman said.
“We will strip the assets of those who import and deal drugs,” he said.
“Our reach offshore through our law enforcement partners and our own New Zealand Police liaison network means we will find these criminals and they will be held to account.”
Nine people have appeared in the Auckland District Court and are expected to reappear in the coming months.
The investigation is ongoing and police said they could not rule out the possibility of further seizures and arrests.