Wellington Police have arrested seven people after executing search warrants in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Porirua targeting a Wellington city-based methamphetamine dealing syndicate.
Over the past month, Operation Oak has targeted the methamphetamine dealing activities of a 53-year-old Wellington man. As a result, yesterday, warrants were executed at 13 addresses across the district, resulting in the arrest of seven people.
Those arrested appeared in the Wellington District Court to face charges including supplying and offering to supply methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for supply, offering to supply and supplying GBL, possession of cannabis and drug utensils.
During the search warrants, Police recovered approximately 50grams of methamphetamine, around $40,000 cash, as well as property suspected to be stolen.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch of the Wellington District Drugs and Organised Crime team said: “This syndicate is believed to have been active for a significant period of time dealing methamphetamine to people in the central city. The investigation has also uncovered the regular trading of stolen property, including phones, designer bags and jewellery in exchange for drugs by the syndicate.”
“Our investigation has again shown the terribly damaging effects that methamphetamine abuse and addiction has on the lives of everyday New Zealanders and their families. The investigation team is making contact with each of the people identified as customers of this syndicate to provide advice and referral to support agencies who can help them to confront and deal with any drug-related problems affecting them and their families.
"We are also offering support to the people charged, so that the intervention by Police can be turned into a positive start point to face their own addiction challenges, where applicable, and reduce the detrimental impact and affects their drug use is having on them.”
Police would like to reassure the community that the disruption of methamphetamine dealing syndicates is a high priority for Police. We encourage anyone who may have any information relating to methamphetamine dealing to contact them in confidence. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
For media queries, please contact Detective Inspector Scott Miller at Wellington Police on 04 802 3619.
