Cops find big meth haul

The roughly $20,000 in cash seized during yesterday's drug busts in Northland. Photo / Supplied

Methamphetamine with a street value of $400,000, $20,000 cash and stolen gold jewellery that had been melted down was seized during Northland drug raids targeting the Head Hunters gang.

A team of 60 police raided five properties across Northland just after 6am yesterday and arrested 11 people. The arrests come as officers terminated Operation Atlas, a police investigation into the criminal activities of the Head Hunters gang, including the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine in the Northland area.

Detectives from the Northland Organised Crime Unit were assisted by officers from the Organised Financial Crime Agency, the Asset Recovery Unit, and the Specialist Search Group. Northland Criminal Investigations Manager Detective Inspector Kevin Burke said 40g of methamphetamine was seized which would have a street value of $400,000. Also found was1kg of ephedrine, enough to make 68g of meth, melted gold jewellery worth $6500, a stolen five-tonne digger and a stolen motorbike.

Mr Burke said the operation would reduce the supply of methamphetamine in Northland and had dismantled a group involved in criminal activities linked to the Head Hunters.

"The discovery of some of these people in possession of melted down gold illustrates how the drug trade and dishonesty are intrinsically linked. That gold was someone's stolen jewellery with a significant sentimental as well as real value. This activity causes considerable harm and social cost to the Northland community."

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National Manager Organised Crime Detective Superintendent Virginia Le Bas said the Head Hunters gang has a significant influence in the methamphetamine market.

"This drug is the root of so much misery. Kiwis from all walks of life have been caught in its grip and the downward spiral of meth addiction, " she said.

Odyssey House Trust meth help team co-ordinator Annabelle Harris said Christmas was a family time that could be very difficult for the relatives of users.

"Getting help for meth addiction doesn't mean going away to a clinic or hospital - we can offer long-term interventions over the phone, such as counselling, or if someone's detoxing we can text them each day."

Three of the 11 arrested made brief appearances in Whangarei District Court before Judge John McDonald.

Corey John Uren, 40, storeperson, of One Tree Point and 28-year-old forestry worker Tony Mataki-Kaiaruna, of Kaikohe, were remanded in custody until January 5, while cashier Rachael Thompson, 25, of Ruatangata West, was remanded on bail until January 5. Between them Uren and Mataki-Kaiaruna face 20 charges including joint charges of supplying meth, being part of an organised criminal group, conspiring to supply meth, manufacturing meth and conspiring to supply meth. Individually they both face charges of supplying meth which carries a sentence of life imprisonment.

The charges of supplying meth relate to Auckland and Whangarei and it appears the conspiracy to manufacture meth was between July 13 this year and December 17. Thompson faces charges of being part of an organised criminal group, possession of meth and money laundering.