A joint Manawatü Police and Customs operation has resulted in the arrest of five people in relation to the importation of nearly half a million dollars worth of the Class A drug methamphetamine.
Operation Hydrabad commenced on 1 September, 2014 when the first of several packages containing MDMA and methamphetamine was intercepted by Customs. A total of 432 grams of methamphetamine was seized in the operation.
In September a Palmerston North man, aged 29, was arrested after he imported 931 tabs of psychoactive substances and a small quantity of cannabis. He is due to be sentenced in the Palmerston North Court on 4 December, 2014.
The following month, three Manawatü women, two aged 33 and the other 46, were arrested and are facing charges of importing methamphetamine after two parcels containing a total of 204 grams of methamphetamine was intercepted by Customs in Auckland.
Yesterday morning (1 December, 2014) Customs, the Manawatü Organised Crime Unit, and Levin CIB officers executed two search warrants, one at Levin and one at Waitarere.
As a result of the warrants a 30-year-old Levin man is facing a raft of charges after parcels containing a total of 228 grams of methamphetamine, 25 tabs of LSD, and 558 MDMA pills (MDMA pills worth approximately $28,000) were intercepted by Customs. Approximately $14,000 in cash was also located by a Customs detector dog at the Waitarere property and seized by police officers.
He has been charged with importing a Class A drug — methamphetamine, importing Class B drug — MDMA, importing Class A drug — LSD, and will appear in the Palmerston North District Court today.
Detective Sergeant Dave Thompson of the Manawatü CIB says: "When you deal in illicit drugs you risk everything, and the consequences could see you spend many years behind bars as well as the seizure and forfeiture of any property obtained through the proceeds of crime."
"Working alongside Customs and our other partner agencies we will continue to strike at the core of organised criminal networks and prevent harm from being caused in our communities."
If you have information about drug cultivation, manufacture or supply rings please contact your local Police Station. Information can also be emailed to Central District Police at DCC.Central@police.govt.nz
Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
NZ Police
Sara Stavropoulos
District Communications Manager
027 702 0850
sara.stavropoulos@police.govt.nz
NZ Customs
Nicky Elliott
Media Advisor
029 251 3167
communications@customs.govt.nz
