Police have arrested 24 people in drug busts across Auckland and Christchurch.
Inspector Darrin Thomson said those arrested face serious charges including dealing Class A drugs, possession of firearms and money laundering.
He said for more than 12 months New Zealand Police National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) have run Operation Italian Sky (Christchurch) and Operation Sumatra (Auckland), targeting organised crime groups running a multi-million dollar Class A drug supply chain between the two cities.
"The operations have concluded over the past four weeks with Police executing a total of 32 search warrants in Christchurch and Auckland.
"More than 50 vehicles were also searched as part of police activity."
The 24 arrests include 11 people in Christchurch and 13 in Auckland, of which 22 are males and two are females, all aged between 20 and 50.
All those charged have appeared or are due to appear in Christchurch and Auckland courts.
The 80+ charges laid include:
- Supplying Methamphetamine
- Supplying Cocaine
- Participation in an Organised Criminal Group
- Possession of Firearms
- Money laundering
- Possession of Drug Manufacturing Equipment.
Seizures have included:
- 5kg of methamphetamine
- 3.5kg of cocaine
- Three firearms (pistol, shotgun & rifle)
- $80,000 Stolen vehicle
- Jewellery
- $500,000+ cash.
Thomson said the seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine have an estimated street value of almost $3 million dollars.
"The volume seized equates to more than 235,000 doses and an estimated $5,500,000 of social harm."
He said the investigations are ongoing and may lead to more searches and arrests.
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