Guns, drugs and cash seized by the police during Operation Italian Sky (Christchurch) and Operation Sumatra (Auckland). Photo: Police / supplied
Two dozen people have been arrested and their firearms and illegal drugs seized, police said on Thursday, the culmination of an investigation that lasted over a year.
Operation Italian Sky (Christchurch) and Operation Sumatra (Auckland) targeted criminal groups running a Class A drug supply chain between the two cities, Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson said.
Of the 24 arrested, 22 were men and two women; 13 were based in Auckland and 11 in Christchurch; all between 20 and 50. They faced charges including dealing Class A drugs, possession of firearms and money laundering.
Police executed 32 search warrants over the last four weeks, seising more than 50 vehicles, three firearms, 3.5kg of cocaine, 5kg of methamphetamine, jewellery and more than half a million dollars in cash.
"The seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine have an estimated street value of almost $3 million," Thomson said.
"The volume seized equates to more than 235,000 doses and an estimated $5.5m of social harm… the mix of Class A drugs and firearms is a lethal cocktail and police will continue to act with urgency when such opportunities present themselves."
More than 100 police staff worked on the busts at any one time over the last four weeks, with support from Customs.
"Our communities are a safer place as a result of this investigation, with these illicit substances off the street and with the reduction in the associated harm and misery that impacts our communities," Thomson said, not ruling out further arrests.