Eleven people have been arrested in connection with a west Auckland organised crime ring.
Police recovered 650 ecstasy pills, 700g of white powder, a pill press and $11,000 cash while searching seven west Auckland addresses as part of the 10-month Operation Lunar last Thursday.
Five Auckland men in their 20s, three men and two women from the Gisborne area and a 24-year-old Hamilton man were arrested on charges including manufacturing ecstasy, participating in an organised criminal group, supplying ecstasy and unlawful possession of a pistol.
The five Auckland men appeared in Waitakere District Court last Friday and will reappear on April 15.
Police said they have established further links to the Gisborne and Hamilton drug trades, and recovered a further 500 ecstasy analogue pills following the arrests.
