Twenty five people have been arrested and face more than 300 serious drug-dealing charges following the termination of an electronic interception operation.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Berry, head of the Wellington District Organised Crime Unit, said that in the last 10 days OCU officers have combined with police and Customs staff from Kapiti, Levin, Hastings, Turangi, Taupo and Auckland to terminate the investigation code-named Operation Monster.
Those arrested, who include gang members and their associates, have appeared in the Wellington, Porirua, Levin, Hastings, Taupo and Papakura District Courts. Further arrests are likely.
Charges relate to the:
• Importing of methamphetamine
• Manufacture, offer to supply and sale of methamphetamine
• Possession and offering to supply LSD, cannabis oil, cannabis plant, ecstasy and morphine
• Cultivation of cannabis
• Possession of firearms
• Possession of precursor chemicals and or substances.
Mr Berry said that during the six-month investigation police and Customs staff seized quantities of LSD, methamphetamine, cannabis oil and plant, precursor chemicals and equipment, PSE tablets, firearms and ammunition.
"The seized drugs have an estimated street value of about $500,000 to $600,000," Mr Berry said. "We’re very pleased with the outcome."