Gang raids turn up Star Wars figures

A collection of Star Wars and Marvel figures was found in the Head Hunters-linked raids.

A police operation that seized methamphetamine, cannabis, cash, cars, motorbikes and jetskis in raids on properties linked to the Head Hunters motorcycle gang also found a sizeable collection of Star Wars figures.

Police last month raided nine properties across the Wellington region, including homes in Wairarapa, Upper Hutt, Titahi Bay and Paekakariki as part of a crack down on the gang's methamphetamine and money laundering networks.

Operation Flyer involved more than 60 officers - including members of the armed offenders squad, and follows several months of investigation.

Among the items seized in in Paraparaumu and Upper Hutt were Star Wars action figures and other collectable figurines.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Pritchard said: "Information gathered during the investigation leads us to believe the property has been stolen from victims in the Porirua to Kapiti Coast area, and to date no one has reported them missing.

"We'd like to find out who they've been taken from. The owner may not yet know themselves. We believe they were stolen during the middle of February."

Star Wars figures in their original packaging are highly prized among collectors and can command huge sums at auctions.

Last year a Star Wars collector paid £18,000 ($37,000) at an auction in the UK for a rare figurine which went on sale 35 years ago for just £1.50.

The unopened Boba Fett character, a bounty hunter from the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, attracted bids from around the world.