Drug raids: Four arrests after meth lab found

Four people have been arrested in Murupara after a methamphetamine lab and a large number of cannabis plants were discovered as part of a major drugs operation across the North Island.
About 150 police executed more than 40 search warrants in Murupara, Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Foxton, Otaki, Whanganui, Hamilton, Auckland and Northland and arrested 30 people yesterday in an operation code named Operation Stamp.
Police seized 29 vehicles, including BMWs, Mercedes and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, more than $120,000 in cash, firearms, gang patches, cannabis and methamphetamine.
Robin Smith of Murupara Four Square said there were a lot of police in the town yesterday.
"We saw a lot of police around and knew they weren't the local lads - we were wondering what was happening," she said.
"We didn't know it was a raid until we heard it on the radio."
Murupara school principal Pem Bird welcomed the news of the operation.
"Good on the police, they have to do what they have to do and we don't want that activity here."
Those arrested in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town have so far been charged with supply of Class A drugs, supply of cannabis, possession of cannabis, possession of equipment and cultivation of cannabis. More charges are likely to follow.
Police say the sting had exposed what is believed to be an organised and large scale methamphetamine distribution network throughout the North Island. The operation had produced evidence of inter-gang co-operation to conduct illegal business, and the increased presence of the Rebels gang in New Zealand.
Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann of the Central Police District said at a media conference yesterday it had "struck a blow to the bowel" of the Rebels in New Zealand.
The Rebels originally from Australia have been taking over the Tribesmen in a rebranding process known as "patching over". Murupara is traditionally known as a Tribesmen area.
"They're [the Rebels] new to New Zealand, we saw this on the horizon, that they wanted to come here and make money out of criminal business and that other gangs were involved," Mr Bensemann said.
"I'll be optimistic to say that this will be the end of the Rebels in New Zealand.
"They won't be tolerated, their presence won't be tolerated, we're not going to accept that they're just going to float over and patch people willy-nilly."
Mr Bensemann said the majority of people involved in producing and dealing methamphetamine were drawing WINZ benefits and "squeezing the taxpayer dry" while making huge amounts of money.
"They are pedalling misery in our communities, feeding addiction, and forcing children to live lives exposed to toxic chemicals. The cost to society in terms of health, education, employment and the like is extortionate."
Police minister Judith Collins said the actions of police would have a significant impact on the supply of methamphetamine.
"Not only will this mean less crime and fewer victims, but it will slow the pipeline of money that is the lifeblood of organised crime. The actions of police will have a significant impact on the supply of methamphetamine," she said. "I'm confident the outstanding work by police will send a strong message to the gangs that if they deal in methamphetamine, they will be caught and they will pay an extremely heavy price."