Police get timing exactly right

EVIDENCE: A substance believed to be methamphetamine and gang paraphernalia were among the property found by police at a house south of Kaikohe on Sunday morning.

Police displayed exquisite timing when they raided a house on Mataraua Road, south of Kaikohe, on Sunday morning. A fresh batch of methamphetamine was reportedly cooking when they arrived, and made two arrests, of a 34-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman.

A second man, aged 38, who turned up while they were still there, was also arrested.

Specialist clan lab investigators from Auckland were called in to conduct a minute examination of the house, the initial police statement claiming that they had seized 351 grams of methamphetamine, 492 grams of pseudoephedrine, cash, a V8 Audi, a stolen Toyota RAV4 and two shotguns. The methamphetamine was given an estimated street value of around $700,000, while pseudoephedrine is used to manufacture the drug.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Miller (Whangarei) said the lab had been capable of producing a large amount of methamphetamine, and closing it down would put a dent in the market for the drug.

"It was a tidy set-up. They knew what they were doing," he said, while gang paraphernalia at the house showed the lab was associated with the Rebels motorcycle gang. Mr Miller said gangs were known to be heavily involved in the manufacture and supply of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine. "This drug causes a significant amount of harm in our communities, and we are doing everything we can to stop it being manufactured and distributed," he added.

It was too early to say how long the lab had been operating or how much of the drug it had produced. The last big bust in Northland was at Waiotira, between Whangarei and Paparoa, in December. That operation yielded 14 arrests and was sparked when police stopped a Mercedes being driven on the Auckland motorway by two teenage Head Hunter gang associates from Whangarei. A search of the vehicle uncovered about 2.5kg of methamphetamine. Police believed that $3 million worth of meth had been cooked at that house in one three-day period.

Meanwhile Detective Senior Sergeant Miller said the public could play a part in fighting the drug trade.

"We've had a lot of information coming through the anonymous Crimestoppers line, and would like to see that continue," he said. (Sunday's operation was the result of information received from the public).

Anyone with information about the manufacture or supply of illicit drugs should call their local police station or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555-111.

****** Anthony Stillwell (34) and Brook Williams (22) have appeared in the Kaikohe District Court charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of equipment, manufacturing methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine for supply. Wini Isaac Ashby (38) was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of utensils for methamphetamine.

Stillwell and Williams were remanded in custody until Tuesday, when they are expected to apply for bail. Ashby was bailed and is due back in court on Tuesday week.