Man accused of importing pseudoephedrine

File photo / Martin Sykes

A 24-year-old Chinese man has appeared in court charged with importing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Wei Hong Zheng appeared in the Auckland District Court today facing two charges, one of possessing the drug for the purpose of supply and one of importing it.

He was bailed to live at an Auckland address with a curfew set between 9pm and 7am and told to surrender his passport to police.

He was to reappear in court with a Mandarin translator on September 9.

His arrest was part of a major police operation in which 22 search warrants were executed on clan labs across the North Island and methamphetamine, lab equipment, vehicles and firearms were seized.

Ten men and a woman were arrested.

- NZPA