Stash of gold, jewels linked to raid on large P factory

Police found a treasure trove of valuables after closing down an alleged methamphetamine operation in East Tamaki, a jury in the High Court at Auckland heard this week.

Gold, platinum and silver ingots, jewellery, precious stones and Cartier and Rolex watches were found in Parnell safety deposit boxes.

Large sums of cash and bonus bonds were also found. One safety deposit box alone was stuffed with more than $250,000.

Three Harley Davidson motor cycles, two of them vintage, were also found in storage units.

Before the court are Michael Joseph Cavanagh, Shannon Kay Stevens and Deborah Anne Henry, who are charged with manufacturing and supplying methamphetamine, having equipment to make the drug and possession for supply.

Cavanagh and Stevens face further methamphetamine and firearms charges.

Cavanagh also faces a charge of conspiring with another man, Tony Jacomb (not on trial), to supply $300,000 worth of heroin to Brett Allison in prison.

During an electronic surveillance operation Allison allegedly told Jacomb by cellphone from jail that he wanted the drug to "see him through his lag".

Jacomb contacted Cavanagh.

Police later raided Cavanagh's address, where they found evidence of storage units in East Tamaki.

There they found two methamphetamine laboratories and $200,000-worth of pure methamphetamine.

Stevens and Henry were allegedly seen shifting equipment out of one of the laboratories.

The trio were bailed but police executed another search warrant at Cavanagh and Stevens' place and found evidence of another storage unit which was allegedly found to contain drug-making chemicals.

Stevens and Cavanagh disappeared, but were later arrested.

The Crown has said it was a significant manufacturing and distribution operation, making large profits.