Locked up under lockdown: Police raid gangs, seize drugs, guns and $1.2m in cash

Hundreds of thousands of dollars (pictured) recovered during search warrants in Auckland and Tokoroa at the beginning of the month. Photo / Police

Up to $1.2 million in cash, class A drugs and firearms have been seized by Police in raids on gangs - as the country was under coronavirus lockdown.

While members of the public hunkered down in late March, authorities continued efforts to crack down on organised crime.

More than 100 search warrants around the country resulted in nearly 50 firearms being seized and more than 90 people being arrested in the last two months and over the period of alert levels 4 and 3.

Gangs targeted in that time were the Comancheros, Mongrel Mob, Black Power, Nomads, Head Hunters, Rebels, King Cobras, Mongols and the Tribesmen.

Firearms among those seized by Police during the country's Covid-19 lockdown. Photo / Police

A total of 25kg of methamphetamine, 30kg of cannabis and small amounts of cocaine and other drugs such as MDMA, GBL and LSD were seized.

Police also discovered 14 clandestine labs and what is described as a "substantial amount" of chemicals and equipment relating to the manufacture of meth.

A whopping $1.2m in cash was found in the raids. Those arrested face more than 250 charges.

Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, manager of the Police's national organised crime group, said: "The illicit activities these groups take part in cause immeasurable harm in our communities."

The latest big operation - dubbed Operation Nestegg - ended earlier this month when five people were arrested after search warrants were carried out in Auckland and Tokoroa.

In that case, hundreds of dollars in cash were recovered; as well as methamphetamine and rifles.

Some of the methamphetamine seized by Police during raids on gangs over the last two months. Photo / Police