One kilogram of gold, half a million dollars in cash, five cars and four kilograms of pseudoephedrine and methamphetamine have been seized by police in the crackdown of a clandestine drug ring operation across Auckland.
Waitakere police CIB seized the assets following the execution of 11 search warrants executed late yesterday.
Eight men were arrested on drug charges related to the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine.
Waitakere CIB arrested two men in the Sylvia Park shopping mall about 3pm yesterday and just over an hour later, the Armed Offenders Squad and police arrested four others in Dominion Road.
Eight men were due to appear in Waitakere District Court today charged with possession for supply of a class B controlled drug, manufacturing methamphetamine, arson and supplying a class B drug.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie said the arrests came as a result of an investigation, named Operation Shiloh, conducted by the Waitakere CIB.
A "top end" Nissan Skyline GTR, Chevrolet Impala, Land Rover, 2004 Holden HSV Ute and 2001 BMW X5 were seized in the operation.
Field crime manager for Waitemata, Acting Detective Inspector Stan Brown led the operation, and said an explosion at a clandestine methamphetamine lab at a house in December last year was the catalyst for the lengthy police investigation.
"We've stopped this group's drug dealing activity in its tracks. At the same time we've arrested the main players responsible for local and regional distribution of meth," he said.
"The success of this operation is pleasing to investigators. As a result of this success the supply and availability of methamphetamine in Auckland will be reduced. It's another major step towards the greater goal of stopping drug dealing on our streets."
70 officers were involved with executing the arrests on Thursday night and another 50 today (Fri), Mr Brown said.
Hundreds if not thousands of hours of police work had gone into the operation.
The drug ring had reasonable amounts of influence in some areas of Auckland, he said, although "... they're certainly not the only drug ring or supply ring happening in Auckland."
Mr Brown said police will minimise the harm from organised crime and drugs at every opportunity, and planned to make more arrests this weekend.
"Our investigations are continuing and more search warrants are being executed on these offenders' home addresses and known associates, to reduce the effects that methamphetamine is still having," Mr Brown said.
There were no undercover police officers involved in the operation, he said.
- By Brendan Manning of APNZ
