Nine arrested, cash and drugs seized

Nine people have been arrested, $154,000 in cash and $300,000 worth of methamphetamine were found after the Organised & Financial Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ) and Police executed warrants in the far North and Auckland earlier this week.

Detective sergeant John Sowter of OFCANZ said the search warrants, executed on Tuesday and Wednesday, were the culmination of a three month long investigation named Operation Enzone.

Searches were carried out on properties in Auckland and Whangarei.  The cash was found buried in a paddock on a property in Kaitaia.

Property and assets worth approximately $2M were seized under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act.

Three properties including two farms in the far north and a property in Red Beach, Auckland were seized along with a range of vehicles, including quad bikes, diggers and tractors as well as farm equipment.

The nine arrested are facing multiple charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, supply of methamphetamine, participating in an organised criminal group and money laundering.

Dectective sergeant Sowter said the group are alleged to have been a manufacturing methamphetamine and supplying the Upper North Island, Auckland, Napier and as far south as Wellington.

OFCANZ staff worked with Police in Napier and the Far North in the operation.

"It is a good result and the culmination of some hard work by OFCANZ and Police investigators." Mr Sowter said.