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More than 40 gang members facing charges after one of the country's biggest illegal drug operations will appear in court today.
More than 50 people were arrested in Auckland and Waikato last month on a variety of offences, including the supply and possession of drugs, firearms, money laundering and other charges.
Of the 51 arrested about 44 were due to appear in Manukau District Court today.
All the defendants were expected to be remanded for about eight weeks for a pre-depositions hearing.
The crackdown began early in May and within two or three weeks, 51 people were behind bars.
Police seized $200,000 in cash, 538g of pure methamphetamine with a street value of more than $500,000, nearly 400g of cannabis, 15 vehicles under the Proceeds of Crimes Act, 12 firearms and all the assets from the business premises of Colourway Records in Otara.
Many of those arrested were members of or had connections to organised criminal gangs The Killer Beez and The Tribesmen.
- NZPA
