Kawerau police talk about the Mongrel Mob gang raids. / Alan Gibson
Drug squad detectives covertly monitor Kawerau after major drug raids and today arrested three individuals who allegedly took over the town's drug trade.
Six months after a major raid on the Mongrel Mob in the eastern Bay of Plenty, police have charged a trio who allegedly filled the void left in the methamphetamine supply chain in Kawerau.
Operation Notus led to the arrests of 48 people and the restraint of nearly $3 million of property in March this year.
Community leaders welcomed the targeting of the Kawerau Mongrel Mob - which police say led to a 34 per cent drop in crime - but warned others would fill the gap in the drug market.
Today it was revealed detectives from the National Organised Crime Group continued surveillance in the town and arrested three more people - two men and a woman - who now face serious methamphetamine and firearms charges.
Search warrants were executed this morning at properties in Kawerau, Whakatane and Te Teko
"This was a major disruption to organised crime and methamphetamine supply in the Eastern Bay of Plenty," said Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander, Senior Sergeant Richard Miller.
"We took the opportunity to encourage users of methamphetamine to engage with support and treatment services to help them break the downward cycle of addiction.
"We know that methamphetamine is a major driver of crime, with users often resorting to crime in order to fund their addiction."
One of 48 people arrested in raids on the Mongrel Mob in March 2018. Photo / Alan Gibson.
Miller said Kawerau was a much safer place after the first termination of Operation Notus, according to crime statistics in the three months after the raids.
Police statistics showed a 34 per cent reduction in overall crime including a 50 per cent decrease in violent offending, a 41 per cent decrease in dishonesty offending and a 34 per cent decrease in antisocial and drug related offending.
