Nearly 20 people have been detained after a meth-ring was allegedly busted in a large scale police operation launched across New Zealand today.
Police said more than 30 search warrants were now underway across greater Auckland, Northland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty as part of a major operation against the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine.
From before dawn 160 police have executed search warrants in homes and businesses throughout Auckland including upmarket Parnell, Grey Lynn and St Heliers.
Other suburbs caught up in the early morning raids included Mt Eden, Mt Albert, Glen Innes, Botany, Hillsborough, Otahuhu, Mt Wellington, Glenfield, Stanmore Bay , East Tamaki and Manukau.
Raids were also conducted in Kaikohe, Morewa, Hamilton, and Christchurch.
One man was due to appear in the Kaikohe District Court and two people were due to appear in the Hamilton District Court.
Details of the ages and charges would be released later, police said.
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Police said today's swoop was part of a long-running investigation into an organised criminal group alleged to be responsible for a methamphetamine manufacture and supply ring.
Five of those alleged to be involved were members or associates of the Head Hunters gang.
Specialist groups such as the Police Clan Lab and Asset Recovery Teams were also involved in the drug bust.
Two clan labs had been located at residential properties in Oropi in the Bay of Plenty.
"At one of these search warrants in Otahuhu this morning, we've found $6500 worth of casino chips, in the boot of a Mercedes.
"We suspect that these are linked to money laundering; hiding money that's been obtained from selling meth" said Detective Senior Sergeant Lloyd Schmid.
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Several vehicles had also been seized from an Otahuhu address, including a highly-modified Nissan GTR Skyline and a 2015 Kawasaki Motorbike.
Bundles of cash, including US dollars, were found.
