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Police have concluded a five-month operation which has resulted in 11 arrests and the recovery of an illicit stash of firearms and drugs, along with nearly NZ$1 million in cash in Auckland this week.
Operation Mexted, a joint investigation run by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and New Zealand Customs, has been targeting a transnational organised criminal cell involved in the smuggling of controlled drugs into New Zealand.
“It’s the 29th such cell shut down in New Zealand since 2016,” police said in a statement today.
“The first phase of Operation Mexted commenced in late June, when Police executed a search warrant at an Air BnB in Māngere Bridge, in Auckland.”
“During the search, four glocks and a submachine gun were located inside a suitcase in an upstairs bedroom,” Acting Detective Inspector Jason Hunt, National Organised Crime Group, says.
“Later that day, three American nationals were arrested at an Onehunga address for the possession of these firearms and were subsequently charged with importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.”
On 14 August, a second phase of arrests terminated with search warrants executed at four properties in Pakuranga, Ōtara, Blockhouse Bay and Papatoetoe.
“As a result, four people were charged in relation to a number of methamphetamine importations, as well as possession for supply of 750 grams of methamphetamine.”
Acting Detective Inspector Hunt says a further man was arrested for money laundering after more than NZ$800,000 was located in a Takapuna apartment.
He says the find was part of the operation’s third termination on 8 September, in which officers also discovered 41 grams of methamphetamine and NZ$77,000 at an address in Mt Wellington, which led to the arrest of another man.
Yesterday morning (18 September) Police and Customs investigators descended on 10 properties across the Auckland and Waikato regions, where a further seven people were taken into custody.
“We are continuing to focus our efforts on these syndicates establishing themselves for financial greed while preying on vulnerable communities.
“Police will continue to act, alongside Customs and our other law enforcement partners, to shut down this organised criminal offending taking place across different parts of the country.”
Acting Customs Investigations Manager, Simon Peterson, says Customs used its investigative and specialist expertise from the outset to identify the syndicate’s attempts to exploit our border and gathered and shared this intelligence with Police partners.
“Customs identified the suspects smuggling cannabis plants and resin into the country, tracking their smuggling activities throughout and gathering evidence.
“The offenders now face charges for the importation of 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well importation charges for cannabis.
“This joint investigation with our Police partners has disrupted this criminal group and kept 900,000 doses of methamphetamine off our streets,” Mr Peterson says.
Ten men, aged between 23 and 39, and one women, aged 33, are facing combined charges for multiple drugs and border related offences.
Those charges include unlawful possession of firearms, importation of methamphetamine, possession for supply methamphetamine, importation of cannabis resin (class b), importation of cannabis plant (class c).
Police have also laid charges of participates in an organised criminal group (material benefits) and participates in an organised criminal group (violence).
Those charged have appeared in the Manukau District Court.
By the numbers:
– 11 people arrested
– 5 firearms located
– NZ$915,335 cash seized
– 791 grams of methamphetamine located
– 18 grams of cocaine
– 54 grams of cannabis
Importation charges relate to:
– 18 kilograms of methamphetamine
– 408 grams of cannabis (resin)
– 1673 grams of cannabis (plants)
