Police and Customs this week busted a drug syndicate in Northland and seized $8 million worth of drugs.
Police seized drugs, cash, assets and two firearms and ammunition after conducting search warrants in Operation Freya. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
It started when Customs notified police of 15 drug packages, seized between March last year and June 2021, which had drugs hidden in books, clothing, art and that were intended for delivery to Northland.
Then for six months, Northland's Organised Crime Unit investigated the smuggling of drugs from overseas, including Africa, and the subsequent sale and supply here.
Operation Freya led to 11 search warrants across Northland including Morningside, Rāwhiti, Ruakākā and Whananaki as well as Rotorua.
Police seized 17kg of methamphetamine, 5.44kg of MDMA and 1kg of pseudoephedrine, which are worth a combined value of $8m in street value.
In addition, about $240,000 worth of assets, including a motorbike, boat and vehicles, were seized under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.
About $70,000 in cash, and a quantity of methamphetamine along with two firearms and ammunition were also seized.
Police have arrested 11 men aged between 27 and 56, and a 25-year-old woman.
Police said they were set to face a raft of charges relating to the importation, manufacturing, and supply of methamphetamine, conspiring to import methamphetamine, MDMA and pseudoephedrine, and participating in an organised crime group.
They are will appear in Whangārei District Court on 13 November.
Detective Inspector Bridget Doell said the Ruakākā-based syndicate's key leaders were in the Headhunters Motorcycle Gang and Mongrel Mob.
"The syndicate's offending spread across New Zealand and those arrested today were allegedly involved in a variety of roles and levels of culpability across this syndicate.
"Ultimately, they have allegedly tried to import, manufacture or on-sell drugs into the Northland market, which currently has some of the highest drug use per capita wastewater readings in New Zealand."
Police said they could not rule out further arrests at this stage.
Doell said the arrests and seizures prevented about $25 million worth of social harm across the Northland district.
"Methamphetamine use is unfortunately a major driver of crime across the Northland District."
Customs intelligence, investigations and enforcement manager Dana McDonald said they continued to work with law enforcement partners globally to disrupt the transnational movement and supply of controlled drugs.
"Organised criminal groups may think that law enforcement doesn't care about small drug packages - but it all adds up, and it's only matter of time before they are held to account.
"Customs actively targets all risk shipments - via sea, air or mail - and is determined to work with our partners, both here and offshore, to make maximum impact in dismantling the organised criminal groups that are involved."
Police say with information about suspected drug dealing in their community should contact 105, or Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.