Neighbours posted on social media saying they were glad to finally know “where the bad drug smell” had been coming from.
It follows several other drug raids over the past few months, including the discovery of cannabis being sold in lolly packets in Ruapehu.
Police said three men were to reappear in court in the coming weeks on drug and firearm-related charges following several central North Island search warrants.
Items seized included 35g of methamphetamine and 2.7kg of cannabis.
Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor said thousands of cannabis plants were destroyed after millions of dollars worth of the drug were discovered being grown in former market gardens.
Police have uncovered a $15 million cannabis operation growing marijuana in former market garden sites across rural southern Auckland. Photo / Supplied
Search warrants were executed at rural sites in Āwhitu, Runciman and Glenbrook under a police operation known as Manta Ray, said the investigations manager for Counties Manukau South Area.
They had destroyed more than 4300 plants at Āwhitu, more than 1000 at Glenbrook and more than 150 at Runciman.
The public had, and would continue to have, a role to play, Taylor said.
“[We] acknowledge the support by the public around information on illegal operations within their community [and] we continue to encourage the community to continue providing us this information on any such concerns they may have.”
The operation took place in Liverpool St, in the central city.
Police have seized a stash of guns, ammunition, cash and illicit drugs in raid in Central Auckland, with two people facing charges. Photo / NZ Police
Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong, from Auckland City’s Serious Crime Group, said officers had been making inquiries into two persons of interest at a residential address on the street.
“A subsequent search of the address, which included assistance from a detector dog, uncovered a number of illegal items, including drugs, firearms, and ammunition.”
