By Rachel Morton
A six month operation in the Bay of Plenty has resulted in police busting six p-labs, and arresting ten people.
In the process they found chemicals which could have produced almost two and a half million dollars worth of P, if it had ever got to the streets.
Also confiscated were silver and gold, weapons and a 15 metre launch.
The boat that police say was paid for with drug money is tied up at a marina near Tauranga. When police raided it, they found firearms and ammunition.
Other seizures include methamphetamine, some of it buried in a backyard, and more than $220,000 in cash.
“I'm confident that the quantities that we're talking about and the amounts that we've taken out of circulation, there'll be a noticeable dent in the supply of methamphetamine,” said Detective Senior. Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow from the Bay of Plenty organised crime squad.
Ten people are facing 90 charges, including possession and supply. Police believe profits from the drug operation paid for vehicles, gold and silver coins and a five kilo silver bar, and the launch.
“This is a big part of our investigation so it's not just the criminal prosecutions but it’s stripping assets from people that are using drug activity to fund their lifestyles.
Six officers worked on this investigation for half a year. And when it came to the raids, the armed offenders squad was called in for seven because of concerns firearms would be present,” said Pilbrow
Police say surveillance played a big role in their operation.
“We're dealing with a sophisticated group who use all manner of means both in the way that they behave and the devices that they use and so there's a large amount of intelligence gathering and then thousands of hours of investigative work,” said Pilbrow
The ten people before the courts may not be all. Police say more arrests are likely.
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