Detective Inspector Steve Rutherford, of Counties Manukau Police, with part of the haul from yesterday's raids. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Auckland police have seized up to $25,000 worth of P and $30,000 in cash in two major drug busts.
Police said what they found was just a "small percentage" of what 15 alleged drug dealers had been selling since the sting began in February.
The accused are to
appear in the Manukau District Court today, charged with conspiring to supply methamphetamine.
The officer in charge of the Counties Manukau inquiry, Detective Sergeant Brett Shields, said the raids were the result of four months of hard work.
"I'd like to think it will have a significant impact on the street dealing - in Counties Manukau especially. These people deal to street-level users."
Police conducted 15 search warrants in Counties Manukau, Mt Wellington, Mt Albert and one in Hastings from 7am yesterday.
Between $20,000 and $25,000 of methamphetamine was seized during the busts. Police also recovered between $20,000 and $30,000 in cash and four firearms, which were not loaded but were found with ammunition.
Police also found Ecstasy pills and cannabis as well as drug-using paraphernalia including pipes and bongs.
"The stuff we recovered isn't a true representation of what they've been doing over the couple of months. It's a very small percentage," Mr Shields said.
It was likely those arrested would face more charges and a "few more people have to be caught up with".
Mr Shields said the people arrested ranged in age from their mid-20s to 40s.
Some had gang connections but the operation was mostly not gang related.
Yesterday's raids involved up to 60 police but the armed offenders squad, which is often deployed in methamphetamine raids, was not used.
The raids were run by Counties Manukau police and staff from Auckland Metropolitan Crime and Operational Services, the region's overarching organised crime and drug squad teams.
