Dotcom raid gets positive feedback

Kim Dotcom. Picture / Supplied

The police say they have had "positive feedback" from international law enforcement agencies on the way the raid on Megaupload millionaire Kim Dotcom's mansion was carried out.

The latest issue of the New Zealand Police Ten One magazine features an article with the headline "Careful planning behind Dotcom swoop".

It said the operation, which was planned for months and came after a request by United States authorities, reinforced the force's long-standing relationship with international law enforcement agencies.

The police have been accused of being heavy-handed in the raid at Coatesville at dawn on January 20. Dotcom's staff and family were rounded up outside the house and police eventually broke into a panic room where they found Dotcom, and a gun safe containing a firearm.

Dotcom and three associates were arrested during the operation that involved up to 70 police, some armed, and including the Special Tactics Group and Armed Offenders Squad, and a police helicopter.

All four of the arrested men are accused of internet piracy and the FBI is seeking to extradite them to the US to face charges of conspiring to commit racketeering, conspiring to commit money laundering, copyright infringement, and aiding and abetting copyright infringement over the internet through the website Megaupload.

Simultaneous raids took place in Australia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Britain and the US.

The magazine said the police liaison in Washington, Detective Superintendent Mike Pannett, monitored activities around the world from the FBI's multi-agency command centre.

"Feedback on the New Zealand operation has been extremely positive from our international law enforcement partners including the FBI and the US Department of Justice," he said.

Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand taskforce leader Detective Inspector Grant Wormald said that while the operation was led by the FBI, its staff were completely hands-off in New Zealand because they had no jurisdiction to conduct investigations here.

- APNZ