Three arrested over non-existent P scam

Police have arrested three men who were allegedly tricked into believing they were arranging the sale of methamphetamine from Tonga. File photo / Martin Sykes

Police have arrested three men who were allegedly tricked into believing they were arranging the sale of several hundred kilograms of methamphetamine from Tonga.

Auckland drug detectives launched an investigation in July after a 34-year-old Tongan man and an associate travelled to Tonga to sample methamphetamine.

After the trip, the man decided the drugs were genuine and arranged to stockpile and distribute them in New Zealand, police allege.

Detective Inspector Bruce Good said an extensive investigation by Tongan and New Zealand police found the man was being scammed by his Tongan associates and there was no methamphetamine available for export.

Despite that, the 34-year-old and two associates continued to believe that the stockpile of methamphetamine in Tonga was genuine, Mr Good said.

"We believe they continued to make arrangements to get the methamphetamine smuggled to New Zealand and sell it to a number of associates."

Drug squad detectives today arrested and charged the 34-year-old Tongan man and two Auckland based men aged 37 and 40, on charges alleging a Conspiracy to Import the Class A controlled drug methamphetamine and Participation in an Organised Criminal Group.

The Tongan man was also charged with conspiring to kidnap a woman living in Tonga.

"As with the scam for the drugs, the actual kidnap did not occur," police said.

The arrested men were due to appear in the Auckland District Court today.

- HERALD ONLINE