Nine members of a drug ring that supplied Napier and other areas have been arrested, with $154,000 in cash and $300,000 worth of methamphetamine found after police executed warrants in the far North and Auckland earlier this week.
Detective sergeant John Sowter of the Organised & Financial Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ) said the search warrants, executed on Tuesday and Wednesday, were the culmination of a three month long investigation named Operation Enzone.
Searches were carried out on properties in Auckland and Whangarei. The cash was found buried in a paddock on a property in Kaitaia.
Property and assets worth approximately $2M were seized under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.
Three properties including two farms in the far north and a property in Red Beach, Auckland were seized along with a range of vehicles, including quad bikes, diggers and tractors as well as farm equipment.