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A 61-year-old woman has been accused of growing 1.8 metre cannabis plants and an operating pill press has been seized in a series of drug raids across New Zealand.
Police said 13 people were arrested, four firearms were found and 30 cannabis plants were seized in the latest phase of Operation Persil - a three-year investigation targeting repeat offenders and bail jumpers.
Senior Sergeant Freda Grace said officers working on the operation discovered more than 20 mature cannabis plants standing up to 1.8 metres tall at an east Hamilton home.
"While they were searching the Coates St property and assessing the significance of their discovery a 61-year-old woman came home and accepted responsibility for the cannabis."
The woman was charged with possession of cannabis.
Police also found a small number of cannabis plants and a sawn-off shotgun at a house in Rukuhia, Ms Grace said.
"The links between dishonesty offending and the illegal drugs trade is now well established but increasingly offenders involved in such activity are also taking to arming themselves creating a risk not only to the public and our staff but themselves as well."
Operation Adder targets illegal pills
A second police operation has also netted a massive haul of performance and image enhancing drugs, prescription medicines and a large sum of cash, as well as a pill-pressing machine capable of producing more than 5000 pills an hour.
They were amongst items seized in a series of inter-agency searches of properties across the country this week.
Waikato Crime Services Supervisor, Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall, said the searches of properties in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch were carried out by police, Customs and Medsafe investigators this week as part of Operation Adder.
Mr Keall said the operation focused on a group allegedly importing the illicit drugs 4MEC and MDPV, performance and image enhancing drugs and prescription medicines, before pressing them into pills and selling them to customers across the country.
"4MEC and MDPV are Class C Controlled drugs. 4MEC is now the most common substance identified in Ecstasy pills in New Zealand. It has been identified in a number of critical hospital admissions," he said.
"It is estimated that this group is responsible for importing in excess of 21 kilograms of 4MEC. This is sufficient to manufacture over 200 000 pills at a standard street value of $40 each." ($8 Million).
Mr Keall said a search of a Hamilton address revealed several kilograms of 4MEC, anabolic steroids, prescription medicines and $178,000 cash, while a pill press and large quantities of unidentified powders were also found in a storage unit in the city.
"As a result of our enquiries a Hamilton man has been arrested and will appear in the Hamilton District Court today on charges of importing, selling and possession for supply of 4MEC and MDPV."
In Auckland, searches of properties located more unidentified pills and performance and image enhancing drugs resulting in the arrest of two men who were charged with Offering to Supply 4MEC. Christchurch police also found large quantities of performance and image enhancing drugs and other yet to be identified powders, Mr Keall said.
He said further arrests will be made, as police are awaiting the results of scientific analysis of the unidentified powders and prescription medicines.
Mr Keall said of particular concern for medical experts was the prescription drugs were being sold with amateur advice as to their use and dosage, with little regard for potential consequences.
"Clients also received guidance around drug testing and what substances could be used to avoid positive test results for those involved in high level sport," he said.