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Police have made 12 arrests, including eight inmates, after 180 officers conducted a series of drug raids on Auckland and Waikato prisons and Auckland homes today.
The 12 will appear in the North Shore District Court on drug related charges, including the manufacture and supply of Class A drugs, and the importation of precursor chemicals. Among those charged are two females.
Operation Web commander, Detective Inspector Steve Wood, said the success of the operation would cause significant disruption to the manufacture of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs in the North Island.
"During the six month operation, customs and police seized significant volumes of pre cursor chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine," Mr Wood said.
Police executed search warrants at 23 homes in Auckland from 7.00am this morning, completing a six month investigation involving investigators from police, customs and corrections.
At about 8.00am police went to both Auckland Prison at Paremoremo and Spring Hill Prison in the Waikato. Selected cells at both these locations were systematically searched and a number of identified prisoners assisted police.
New Zealand Customs had previously intercepted some 20 kilograms of Contac NT.
Originating in China, most of the Contac NT had come in parcels through the international mail centre near Auckland Airport.
Some had also come in courier mail parcels.
Customs New Zealand Manager, Drug Investigations, Bill Perry, said that the 20 kilograms had been linked to today's Operation Web.
"That amount of Contac NT can be turned into about five kilos of methamphetamine," Mr Perry said.
"Customs had had a large team involved today also, including two detector dogs, a specialist search team, and nine drug investigators.
"A hydroponics cannabis operation, firearms, cash and methamphetamine were all seized."
Operation Web was set-up in January to investigate the importation and distribution of controlled and precursor drugs in New Zealand by a well organised group of criminals.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
