Eight people have been arrested following a three month operation focusing on the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine in Rotorua.
In addition to the arrests, Police seized several vehicles, approximately $50,000 cash, several firearms, approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine, and methamphetamine manufacturing equipment.
The operation was run by Rotorua Police Organised Crime Squad, supported by wider Bay of Plenty staff.
As a result, five men and three women, aged between 19 and 56, with reported links to the Mongrel Mob, have been arrested.
They have been charged with a variety of offences, ranging from possession of firearms, manufacturing methamphetamine, and supplying methamphetamine and possession of cannabis for supply.
Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow acknowledges the great work achieved as part of the operation, in conjunction with Operation Cobalt.
“We will continue to target and suppress unlawful gang behaviour in order to enhance the safety of our community and staff.
“We have a commitment to disrupting and dismantling networks identified and will continue to target those who illegally accumulate assets and wealth through the sale and supply of illegal drugs and firearms.
“Our message to those involved is clear – we have zero tolerance for any violence, gang and drug activities.”
Methamphetamine devastates many vulnerable communities while organised criminal groups continue to profit off this type of offending.
Police is committed to targeting and dismantling the operations of those who seek to profit from this harm, and we are confident this operation will result in a major disruption to the supply of methamphetamine in the district.
The combination of drugs and firearms is always a potentially lethal recipe for harm and continues to be of grave concern for Police and the communities it serves.
Police continue to encourage anyone with information about illegal activity taking place in their community to contact 105, or Crime Stoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.
Someone didn’t get the ‘hand your gun in’ memo… only the law abiding folk seem to have responded to the call.
This was on the main road of Ngongotaha. We have seen dodgy as people there for well over a year. And yes, mongrel mob. There were two tow trucks there yesterday and a LOT of cops with traffic diverted. This was all a few doors down from another house that was also a ‘p’ house a few years back.
There’s teens on motorbikes with masks and no helmets doing wheelies and another dude on a mobility scooter with a pit bull and red clothing who use the bike track between Ngongotaha and kawaha point all the time and I am pretty sure they must be running drugs. The dude on the mobility scooter is often waiting at the end of the track for someone in a small black car. Dodgy as. However I am beyond caring. The cops don’t seem interested most of the time and seriously what will happen to these crims? A slap over the hand with a wet bus ticket? They will be back out of jail in no time ready to continue their criminal behaviour. Same old same old. The crims aren’t even scared about the consequences.
There was also another tinny house at the other end of town on the main road. I reported that one to the cops at the time but they didn’t seem interested.
Meh.