Major drug haul

Operation Adrift kept 13-20kg of methamphetamine off the streets Photo: NZ Customs

Three people were arrested and 67.6 kilograms of ContacNT seized in a combined operation by Auckland Police metro drug squad and New Zealand Customs this month. It’s the largest amount of the methamphetamine pre-cursor drug to be seized this year.

Detective Senior Sergeant Bruce Howard, from the Auckland Metro Crime and Operations Support drugs and organised crime team believes the quantity seized was sufficient to manufacture 13-20 kilograms of methamphetamine with a street value of $13-$20 million.

During the month-long operation, codenamed Adrift, search warrants were executed at several Auckland addresses leading to the arrest of three Chinese nationals. One is resident in New Zealand; the other two are here on student visas.

All three are charged with participation in an organised criminal group, importing a Class C controlled drug and possession of a Class C controlled drug for supply. Their cases are currently before the Court and investigations are ongoing.