Gangsters arrested in P raids

A police raid resulted in dozens of drug-related arrests. Photo / Martin Sykes

Dozens of patched gang members and associates will face drug dealing charges today after a mammoth police operation in South Auckland.

Yesterday, more than 120 officers swooped on 17 mainly Black Power properties in the Counties-Manukau suburbs of Papakura and Takanini, ending a three-month operation.

Police said the operation was part of the Counties-Manukau district's response to the Government's five-prong plan to stamp out methamphetamine.

Detective Inspector John Tims, crime manager for the district, called it a "very, very good day" and hoped the arrests would assure New Zealanders police were "active in the fight against methamphetamine". He promised more raids and arrests to come.

Twenty-four people, aged between 16 and their late 40s, will appear in the Manukau and Papakura District Courts today on a range of charges including possessing and supplying class A and C drugs and conspiracy to supply drugs.

Mr Tims would not reveal whether they included key gang players, but said: "I can say they were either patched Black Power or associates."

It was too early to know exact quantities, but the raids had uncovered drugs with a street value of up to $70,000, he said. Several firearms and stolen electrical gear such as televisions and projectors were also seized.

"That connection between stolen property and drugs keeps rearing its head again," Mr Tims said.

A clandestine lab was also raided yesterday afternoon and a Mongrel Mob member arrested, "clearly demonstrating" gangs were working together on drug deals. Mr Tims said chemicals and white powder believed to be methamphetamine were found.

Young children at two raided properties were being tended to by Child Youth and Family. Mr Tims said he was not aware of any neglect orabuse.

But Marion Heeney, northern regional director for CYF, said children found in homes containing P were often isolated from the community and their general well-being had deteriorated.

"There are of course specific health concerns when children have been exposed to P, and it is necessary to undertake medical checks and blood toxin screening."

Ms Heeney said families using drugs "often have financial problems which in turn impacts on the ability to provide basic material needs".

She said the agency also saw a link between adult drug use and family violence.