$5m worth of P seized in Auckland

File photo / Brett Phibbs

Police have seized $5 million worth of methamphetamine during a bust targeting Asian organised crime in Auckland this morning.

Five kilograms of methamphetamine, or P, two kilos of ContacNT valued at $500,000, and $236,000 in cash, as well as firearms and ammunition were seized during six simultaneous searches in Auckland at 6am today.

About 70 police officers in the six-hour long search.

Police said an Asian organised crime ring has been busted, terminating a year-long operation, codenamed Acacia, by the Organised and Financial Crime Agency NZ (Ofcanz) and Auckland Metro Crime and Operations Support (Amcos).

Six people face charges relating to the Class A drug methamphetamine and appeared in the Auckland District Court.

The men from a "mix" of Asian nationalities could face a penalty of up to life imprisonment.

Ofcanz Detective Inspector Stephen Wood said "this would be one of the most significant seizures of methamphetamine made within New Zealand."

Amcos Detective Inspector Bruce Good said the bust was also related to arrests made in Waikato a few weeks ago, where eight people were charged with drug related offences.

"Those arrests and today's operation signify a major disruption to organised crime networks in the North Island," he said.

Police Minister Judith Collins congratulated police for the major bust, a "massive haul" which would have created misery and a wave of crime in the community.

"I would like to congratulate police for their good work in bringing this operation to such a successful conclusion, and preventing this evil drug finding its way to our streets and neighbourhoods."

"Today's arrests are the result of meticulous intelligence gathering by police. It sends a strong signal to those who try to import, produce and sell drugs that they will be caught," she said.

- NZPA