Police shut down Auckland drug dealing network
Police shut down Auckland drug dealing network
National Organised Crime Group Police in
Auckland have today shut down a large network of cocaine and
methamphetamine dealing in the city, concluding a
three-phased investigation that has been running over
several months.
Operation Ceviche has led to the
arrest of 13 people on methamphetamine and/or cocaine
charges, including a senior patched member of the Hells
Angels Auckland chapter, who has been charged with supplying
methamphetamine and possessing this drug for
supply.
The operation concluded today with the arrest
of seven men, and a single seizure of 750 grams of cocaine
and $81,000 in cash.
Detective Senior Sergeant Lloyd
Schmid said the cocaine was a significant
find.
“It’s unusual to achieve such a big domestic
seizure.
Cocaine is usually picked up in much smaller amounts, so today’s find is indicative of people who have been heavily involved in persistent, premeditated, career drug dealing.
In total we seized almost 760 grams of cocaine with a street value of over $300,000 today.”
Today’s arrest of seven men includes the
re-arrest of two people who were arrested during the second
phase of the operation earlier this month.
During this phase 84 grams of cocaine that had been prepared for supply was seized.
“These offenders were creating some
fairly identifiable cocaine. The drug was being mixed with
another substance and moulded into ounce-sized bricks with a
hand-made wooden press (pictured).”
“These are
people who’ve been living beyond their means by selling
drugs to others, and despite some attempts to conceal their
offending, they’ve now been fully exposed.
“They
were each operating mini drug supply networks, but our
investigation has linked them in various ways.
People who choose to involve themselves in the supply of illicit drugs can expect to be held to account,” Detective Senior Sergeant Schmid said.
The first phase of the operation
was completed in June when six people were arrested
including the patched Hells Angels gang
member.
Overall, 13 people have been arrested across
the operation’s three phases.
They face between one and eleven counts of supply/ possession for supply of methamphetamine and/or cocaine.
The maximum penalty
for the supply of methamphetamine and cocaine is life
imprisonment.
ENDS