A combined Police and Customs Operation into major methamphetamine dealing is being terminated today after several months of investigation.
"It involves an investigation into major methamphetamine dealing throughout New Zealand and today's operation will make a huge hole in the Canterbury Methamphetamine market," says Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Fitzgerald, Canterbury District Police.
"There are links to Asian organised crime syndicates through out New Zealand and distribution has been through local, well established, organised crime syndicates, a number of who are long term organised crime associates," he says.
There has been methamphetamine dealing well in excess of $100,000 a week and today Police have located `P' to the street value of in excess of $400,000 as search warrants have been executed through out New Zealand in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
To date 18 people though out the country have been charged with a number of charges including conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and the supply of methamphetamine. 16 people have been arrested in Christchurch, two in Wellington and many of them will appear in court this afternoon.
Over the months of the investigation, twenty Police and Customs staff have been deployed, and today through out New Zealand 120 Customs and Police staff are involved in the termination.
No meths labs were found but precursor chemicals and pseudoephidrines have been located. No one has been in any danger.
Detective Inspector Paul Kench, Canterbury District Crime Manager says that there is a lot of debate around organised crime and often the general public are not aware of what may be happening within different sub cultures in the criminal under world.
"Today's termination and subsequent arrests illustrate that the Canterbury Police will continue developing strategies in the fight to combat organised criminal activity and everything that goes with offending of this nature, such as drugs," he says.