Luxury cars, firearms, drugs seized in bust

File photo / AAP

A major police operation today has highlighted the fact that rival gangs are working together in the highly lucrative drugs trade, Police Minister Judith Collins says.

The operation targeting gangs and methamphetamine, code-named Operation Stamp, saw police seize luxury cars, motorcycles, firearms and drugs across five districts.

More than 100 North Island police officers executed 40-plus search warrants and arrested 30 people today. More arrests are expected.

"The actions of police will have a significant impact on the supply of methamphetamine," Ms Collins said

"Not only will this mean less crime and fewer victims, but it will slow the pipeline of money that is the lifeblood of organised crime.

"The number of gangs involved shows they are putting aside their differences and working together in what is a highly lucrative, but evil, drugs franchise," Ms Collins said.

The operation exposed what police believe to be an organised and large scale methamphetamine network and an apparent increased presence of the Australian Rebels gang in New Zealand.

A clan lab was uncovered in Murupara, about 60km south east of Rotorua, and a Palmerston North finance company is under investigation.

Ms Collins congratulated police and said it was a bad day to be a criminal drug dealer.

"The majority of people involved in producing and dealing methamphetamine are drawing benefits and squeezing the taxpayer dry while make making amounts of money that many people can only dream of," Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said.

Police seized 29 vehicles, including BMWs, Mercedes and Harley Davidson motorcycles, and more than $120,000 in cash. They also seized firearms, gang patches, cannabis and methamphetamine.

The warrants were executed in Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Foxton, Otaki, Wanganui, Murupara, Hamilton, Auckland and Northland involved police from Central, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Auckland and Northland.

- NZPA