Operation Cincinnati: Not guilty pleas after Ferrari, 20,000 ecstasy pills scooped up

Police raided properties across Auckland as Operation Cincinnati concluded. Photo / Supplied

Members of a group with an apparent fondness for Polo Ralph Lauren clothes and alleged penchant for drug deals have denied charges after huge police raids last month.

More than a dozen men arrested in the Auckland-wide raids appeared in court on Wednesday.

The accused are of different ages and nationalities. Some who appeared in Auckland District Court can be named and others have name suppression.

The arrested men come from different parts of south, west and central Auckland, the North Shore, and the city's outskirts.

Police have said the alleged drug syndicate did not appear to have any gang links.

So apart from a few who donned Ralph Lauren cotton mesh polo shirts, the men appeared to have little in common.

But none of the 14 who appeared in court before lunch on Thursday admitted any charges after a long police investigation dubbed Operation Cincinnati.

After seven months of investigations, police raids in Operation Cincinnati netted drugs, weapons and cash.

First to appear was Yun-Chao (John) Hsu, charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded on bail to a January 15 case review.

Next to appear was Chee Wai Poon, a 40-year-old Takapuna man, who requires a Cantonese interpreter.

Charged with possessing meth for supply, he also pleaded not guilty, elected a trial by jury, and was remanded on bail.

Next to appear was a 32-year old man with name suppression, who smiled as he left the dock and joined a female companion. He also elected a jury trial.

Sokevin Meak, 24, then appeared in the dock.

He faced charges including supplying ecstasy and participating in an organised crime group. Not guilty pleas were recorded for him and he was also remanded on bail.

A middle-aged man then denied charges of supplying meth and supplying ecstasy.

Like the others, he will reappear on January 15 for a case review.

A 21-year-old man wearing a white Polo Ralph Lauren shirt then entered not guilty pleas and was remanded on bail.

Another man with name suppression, aged 20, denied charges including ecstasy supply and will also reappear in the New Year.

Saiard Jamal Pelenda then appeared and pleaded not guilty to participating in an organised criminal group and supplying ecstasy.

Dante Riley, 19, entered not guilty pleas to ecstasy supply and organised crime charges.

Two more defendants appeared, pleaded not guilty, and were remanded on bail.

A 23-year-old man in custody then appeared, raised his eyebrows and smiled at his supporters, and was remanded in custody and granted interim name suppression.

A 21-year-old from central Auckland was also deemed to have entered not guilty pleas, and remanded on bail to the same January case review as the others.

Jesse Zheng, on bail, also denied charges including ecstasy supply, and possessing cannabis for supply.

He too will be back in court next year.

Police last month claimed Operation Cincinnati led to $10 million in assets being seized.

A Ferrari, Porsche, Audi Q8 SUV, two Ford Ranger Raptors, a Range Rover and two Harley-Davidsons were restrained, police said.

More than 100 Police staff executed search warrants at 34 properties, in places including Kohimarama, Saint Johns, Remuera, Kumeū and Westmere.

Police at the time said more than 20,000 "Pink Porsche" ecstasy pills were also found, as were two pill presses.

Investigators also claimed to have seized illegal firearms.