Police have found a large number of firearms, including military-assault type weapons in the ceiling of a Takanini house, as well as an elaborate methamphetamine production set-up in a South Auckland warehouse, including a secret room. (7 pictures attached to this media release on Police website and video available)
Detectives from Organised Crime Group carried out several search warrants throughout much of yesterday, as part of Operation Turbo, which looked into the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine.
A 37 year-old man will appear in court this morning on a range of serious charges, after he was arrested by Police at an inner-city apartment on Thursday morning.
“When our officers entered the apartment he’s alleged to have had a 9mm handgun next to his bed, a plastic container filled with half a kilo of freshly-made methamphetamine (worth as much as $500 000.00) and a bag with around $150 000.00 in cash” says Det Snr Sgt Lloyd Schmid, Organised Crime Group.
The man was taken into custody and a few hours later, Detectives gained entry to an industrial warehouse related to him in Ash Road, Wiri, where they found a heavily-fortified building. A clan lab (used to manufacture meth) was found inside. Officers searched the property and then discovered a well-hidden secret room within the dwelling. Inside the secret room was yet another clan lab, with two firearms and ammunition laying on the bench. Police remain at the scene this morning and the scene examination at this address is expected to continue for much of today.
Search warrants were also carried out by officers at several storage units, where chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were found.
At around 4pm last night, the Operation Turbo team carried out a further search warrant on a residential home in Takanini.
Fourteen firearms, including AK47’s and M16’s were found inside the residential property, the majority of which were found in the ceiling,
“The fact that we’ve found such an elaborate meth set-up, as well as so many guns, will have organised crime at it’s roots” says Detective Senior Sergeant Lloyd Schmid, Organised Crime Group.
“Methamphetamine is a highly-valuable illegal drug, so with competition for market and the possibility of ‘rip offs’ there’s no doubt that firearms are a tool of trade if you’ve involved in the criminal world of manufacturing or dealing methamphetamine. Our enquiries into the associates of the arrested man are ongoing, but we know from experience that the meth being produced in this setup is likely to have been making it’s way into the national supply chain” says Det Snr Sgt Schmid.
“Establishing exactly where these firearms have come from is now a priority for us, and we will make many enquiries into this over the coming days” he says.
The 37 year-old man will be appearing in the Manukau District Court this morning, on charges that include possession for manufacturing and possession for supply of methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Further charges haven’t yet been ruled out.
ENDS
Media: Six short video clips of the firearms are available. They have been emailed in 3 separate emails just now to the newsdesks and newstips emails of all newsrooms. Apologies for anyone left off, please ring Beth Bates for the videos if you haven't received them.
Det Snr Sgt Schmid is available for interview about Operation Turbo. Please call Beth Bates.
