Twenty-five BOP arrests for meth, ecstacy and cannabis

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Twenty-five people have been arrested after a two day operation across the Western Bay of Plenty targeting organised criminals involved the sale and distribution of illicit drugs and dealing in stolen property.

Police said 26 search warrants were executed across the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.

More than 30 police staff have been involved in the operation, assisted by nine New Zealand Customs staff, two Immigration New Zealand officers, and a collections officer from the Ministry of Justice. The Tauranga Armed Offenders Squad was also used to support a search warrant in Welcome Bay.

The officer in charge of the operation, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner, said police recovered quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis, ecstasy, around $9000 in cash, four firearms and stolen electrical equipment in the searches.

He said those arrested are facing a range of charges related to possession of methamphetamine and cannabis for supply, receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. All those arrested have or will be appearing in the Tauranga District Court over the coming week.

Mr Turner said the arrested people include members of the Headhunters, Filthy Few, Mongrel Mob, Black Power and Nomads.

"This demonstrates the propensity for these groups to work together for profit," he said.

"In recent months we have seen the development of several large-scale, sophisticated commercial burglary operations, which have been targeting highly marketable commodities such as cigarettes and phone cards. These are often exchanged for drugs and ultimately end up in the hands of criminal groups.

"It is just this sort of link between drugs and burglary offending that this operation has set out to disrupt. The arrests today have gone a long way to achieve that."

Mr Turner said the public play a key role in helping identify and apprehend drug and burglary offenders and urged anyone has knowledge of or who suspects drug dealing activity in their neighbourhood to contact police.

- NZ Herald staff