Loaded gun in child's bedroom found during Northland meth raids

A loaded pistol hidden in a backpack in a child's bedroom is among the "seriously concerning findings" from a major police operation that has dismantled a methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution network in remote parts of Northland.

Fourteen people have been arrested under Operation Phoenix, led by the National Organised Crime Group, following a year-long investigation into the alleged manufacture and supply of methamphetamine in the Far North.

Thirty-four searches took place across Northland and Auckland in recent days, with police descending on parts of Kaikohe and Kaitaia during what investigators described as the termination phase of the operation.

Nine firearms were recovered, including the loaded Alfa Carbine pistol found in the child's bedroom, a Norinco .22LR rifle and a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, along with 300 rounds of ammunition.

Police also seized methamphetamine including product mid-manufacture, chemicals and equipment used in its production, operating clandestine labs, a cannabis grow room and $15,000 cash.

Speaking at the Whangārei Police Station on Thursday, Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, Director of the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG), said two operating clan labs were located during the raids - a relatively rare find.

"The fact you think you're hiding up a little back road somewhere and you're untouchable — this proves that you're not," he said.

The Kaitaia area had among the highest rates of methamphetamine addiction in the country, based on recent wastewater data, with the scale of the problem growing, Williams said.

"We're talking now about meth doubling in consumption in 2024 — that means double the amount of cash going to organised crime in this country. Off the back of that is massive social harm."

Consequences had been severe for affected communities, he added.

"Social deprivation, kids going without food, family violence has all occurred during the course of this process."

The alleged offenders had links to the Tribesman gang, with some connections to the Head Hunters also identified during the investigation.

Investigators identified a pattern of solo mothers being deliberately addicted and then coerced into dealing on behalf of the group. This was a tactic Williams said NOCG had first encountered in Northland years earlier and had now seen repeated in this investigation.

"They understand that through methamphetamine they basically entrap and enslave people, and then they get them working for them."

The arrests were hopefully a chance for "communities potentially to reset themselves", Williams said.

Northland District Commander Superintendent Matt Srhoj said the community had been calling for action.

"There's been a lot of noise in the community — the community want this," he said.

"Taking these people out of the equation at the moment by putting them before the courts really provides that opportunity to fill that void with something positive."

Srhoj said community information had been central to the success of the investigation.

"Intelligence is everything — and it's not just the intelligence that the organised crime group provides, it's what the community provides. They're the eyes and ears."

The operation was supported by 70 NOCG staff from Auckland, 21 Northland officers, and specialist units including AOS teams, clan lab teams, and ESR.

Operation Phoenix follows Operation High Water in 2024, which targeted the Barbarian motorcycle gang in Ōpōtiki, and Operation Notus in 2018.

Some of those arrested have been appearing in the Kaikohe District Court this week facing charges including manufacturing methamphetamine, possession for supply, supplying methamphetamine, and participating in an organised criminal group.