KEY POINTS:
A district court judge ordered several people out of his court today as the first of 30 gang members and associates appeared after a major police drugs swoop.
The six-month police bust led to 20 arrests yesterday. Armed police arrested a further 10 today, including two women.
Those
charged faced a raft of counts, including possessing methamphetamine for supply, supplying the drug, money laundering and manufacturing methamphetamine.
Today in Manukau District Court as most of the 20 arrested yesterday began to appear, Judge David Harvey ordered some supporters out of the court as they began to gesture to a defendant as he stood in the dock.
One man left the court with both arms above raised his head and shouted "F..k the world." Others left silently.
Of those who appeared only two - both women on relatively minor charges - were given bail.
The other 17 were remanded in custody without plea to appear again on June 11 for a pre-depositions hearing.
Two others appeared in Hamilton District Court yesterday.
During the swoop on dozens of properties in south Auckland and Waikato yesterday, police recovered $500,000 worth of methamphetamine, $200,000 in cash and loaded firearms
Today more drugs and cash were recovered and police said the raids had had a significant impact on the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in and around Auckland.
Earlier, he said the six-month operation had been a huge success.
One of those arrested yesterday, Joshua James Masters, 30, the head of the Killer Beez gang, was the only one in court to have a police escort. He appeared on two charges, of supplying methamphetamine and as he stood in the dock, he had a policeman on either side.
Two women, Natalie Patricia Eyles, 27, and Georgina Margaret Bracken, 33, were remanded on bail. Eyles faced money laundering charges and Bracken was charged with possessing cannabis. They were remanded with the other 17 to June 11 for a pre-depositions hearing.
Some of the others sought name suppression and a remand on bail but Judge Harvey refused. He said having an elderly relative or bringing distress on a relative did not justify name suppression.
Others to appear today included: Hepa Joseph Deer, 37, on charges of supplying and possessing methamphetamine; Eric Dean Davidson Paki-Edwards, 21, supplying methamphetamine; Max Anthony Joseph Wilson, 18, supplying methamphetamine; Glenda Joy Phillips, 57, possessing methamphetamine; Adam Nelson, supplying methamphetamine; Vernon Arthur Payne, 44, supplying methamphetamine; Danny Shortland, supplying methamphetamine, Michael Shortland, supplying methamphetamine; Kawiti Shortland, 18, supplying methamphetamine; Joshua James Masters, 30, supplying methamphetamine; Lex Selwyn Phillips, 18, supplying methamphetamine; Amelia Morunga, 43, supplying methamphetamine; Richard Charles Hemopo 36, possessing methamphetamine; Tatum Beverly Masters 26, supplying methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine; Patrick Toia, possessing methamphetamine for supply and selling methamphetamine; Morten Moungatonga, supplying methamphetamine.
Another person appeared in the Manukau Youth Court for supplying methamphetamine but his details cannot legally be published.
- NZPA
