Major drug bust also nets firearms and boat

Some of the methamphetamine ingredients seized. Photo / NZPA

Bay of Plenty police have busted a major organised crime syndicate, seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine ingredients, firearms, gold, a 50-foot launch and arresting 10 people.

Police have executed 16 search warrants in the region in the past two weeks. They have uncovered five residential methamphetamine laboratories and one mobile lab located in a car.

Chemicals and ingredients used to make methamphetamine worth up to $850,000 were found, with the capability of producing around $2.4 million worth of the drug.

More than $220,000 in cash, $100,000 worth of silver and gold coins and bars, nine illegal firearms, 17 cars, five motorcycles, a rural property, a 50-foot launch, a power boat and $268,000 worth of methamphetamine were also seized.

The bust was the culmination of a six month operation by the Bay of Plenty Police organised crime squad, operation Safari, aimed at disrupting the supply of methamphetamine to the region.

It had also identified a major stolen property receiving network.

Detective Senior Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow said the operation highlighted the link between drug and property offending, with large amounts of stolen property being fed through members of the group.

The syndicate was extremely well organised with large-scale operations across the Bay of Plenty and stretching into Waikato and Auckland, he said.

"It had the technology, equipment, chemicals and capability to produce large quantities of methamphetamine. The amounts we recovered in the past two weeks alone had the potential to produce methamphetamine worth more than $2 million.

"As a result of this operation, we have significantly disrupted the supply of methamphetamine in the Bay of Plenty. This has obvious and real benefits for our local communities."

Ten people were arrested and have been appearing in the Tauranga District Court, facing more than 90 charges between them.

Five of those arrested remain in custody and further arrests were likely, Mr Pilbrow said.

- NZPA