Iranian arrested at dawn after $2.4 million P seizure

Yashar Ghasemi. Photo / Richard Robinson

The alleged ringleaders of the Auckland cell of an international drug syndicate can now be named.

Yashar Ghasemi, 31, was arrested in a dawn raid yesterday after nearly $2.4 million of methamphetamine was seized in a two-month covert investigation.

Two late-model cars - a Range Rover and a BMW - $16,000 cash and a stun gun were also confiscated.

Ghasemi faces methamphetamine charges, including conspiracy to import and supply the class-A drug, as well as participation in an organised criminal group.

He will appear in the Auckland District Court today with co-accused Homayun Nouri, 42, also facing a raft of charges including possession of methamphetamine for supply. Both are in custody but will apply for bail today.

The Iranians were the principal targets in Operation Crow, a two-month drug squad and customs inquiry, which also arrested Aucklander David Mafi.

Mafi, a 34-year-old patched member of the King Cobra gang, is facing a charge of possession of methamphetamine for supply and was granted bail yesterday.

Ghasemi was arrested at 5.30am yesterday after police raided two central Auckland addresses, with armed offenders squad members supporting one of the search warrants.

Police allege the syndicate used couriers, or "drug mules", to smuggle the methamphetamine from Iran.

Iran is considered a significant source country of the drug.

One of the couriers was intercepted by customs at Auckland Airport with 2kg in a suitcase, then followed by drug detectives in a "controlled delivery".

Two more seizures during Operation Crow lifted the total amount of methamphetamine to nearly 2.4kg - a street value of $2.4 million.

"It's certainly a substantial amount of methamphetamine. It's not in the small boys' play area, that's for sure." said Detective Senior Sergeant Bruce Howard Howard.

Ghasemi allegedly organised the importation and Nouri allegedly ran the distribution network.

Yesterday, Police Minister Judith Collins praised the dedication of police in targeting organised crime. At the end of April, police and customs had seized 20.6kg of methamphetamine this year, which is estimated to have prevented more than $8 million in social harm. That figure did not include the latest bust.

So far this year, Ms Collins said, $38.5 million in criminal assets have been seized and restrained under the tough new forfeiture law passed in 2009. Police are holding a further $8.5 million of assets.

"This sends a very strong signal to criminals that the Government is serious about taking away the profits of crime and putting gangs out of business."

- additional reporting: NZPA