Ten arrests made, police seize ‘myriad’ of drugs, ammunition in major operation


One of the images police released on Wednesday morning in relation to the raids.

New Zealand Police/Supplied

One of the images police released on Wednesday morning in relation to the raids.

Police have arrested ten people and seized a “myriad” of methamphetamine, firearms, ammunition, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash in raids across the country.

The arrests follow a number of search warrants carried out this week, which were the conclusion of an eight-month investigation dubbed Operation Campbell, as well as additional arrests made in Operation Cobalt.

Operation Campbell targeted a methamphetamine manufacturer, who had established a distribution network across New Zealand.

The search warrants were carried out in Northland, Auckland and Christchurch over Monday and Tuesday.

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Following the search, six men and one woman aged 18 to 52, with links to both Head Hunter and King Cobra gangs have been arrested.

Additionally, a total of five kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately $100,000 cash and a number of other items of evidence were seized during the operation.

The group face a total of 50 charges, including manufacturing and supplying of the Class A controlled drug methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and participating in an organised criminal group.

They will appear in Kaitaia, Auckland and Christchurch district courts in coming days.

Cash seized in the operation.

New Zealand Police/Supplied

Cash seized in the operation.

National clan lab manager Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Holmes said in a statement police are “continuing to step up enforcement and disruption of unlawful gang activity across the country as Operation Cobalt rolls out”.

On Tuesday, police arrested three people with gang associations and seized gun and ammunition in relation to Operation Cobalt.

The arrests followed a search at four Dargaville properties, where cannabis, methamphetamine and illegal ammunition was seized.

A 41-year-old man and a 24-year-old female were arrested and face methamphetamine-related charges, and a 39-year-old man was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

The group was due to appear in Whangārei District Court on Wednesday.

Holmes said police “have zero tolerance for any violence, gang and drug activities”.

“Methamphetamine devastates many vulnerable communities while organised criminal groups continue to profit off this type of offending.”

A cannabis grow room, one of the images police released in relation to the raid.

New Zealand Police/Supplied

A cannabis grow room, one of the images police released in relation to the raid.

Holmes said police were committed to “targeting and dismantling” operations that seek to profit from methamphetamine.

“We are confident this operation will result in a major disruption to the supply of methamphetamine in these regions,” he said.

“These search warrants have identified and dismantled a large commercial clan lab capable of producing multiple kilograms of methamphetamine per cook operating out of the Far North.”

The combination of drugs and firearms are “a potentially lethal recipe for harm”, and continues to be a “grave concern” for police.

Police encourage anyone who may know anything in relation to Operations Cobalt or Campbell to either report the information online at 105.police.govt.nz, call police on 105, or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.



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