Three Wanganui people have appeared in the Whanganui District Court on drug-related charges after they were arrested during a large-scale police sting.
In Wanganui, Operation Stamp executed five warrants, made three arrests, recovered methamphetamine, along with more than $10,000 recovered from four houses.
One house raided was in Salisbury Avenue, Wanganui East, a second was in Ward Street, Aramoho. Police would not say where the third and fourth houses were located.
A 36-year-old man previously from Palmerston North faces six charges including the manufacture of methamphetamine, supplying methamphetamine, conspiring to deal methamphetamine, possession for supply of methamphetamine, participating in organised criminal group, and possession of equipment with intent.
He was remanded in custody to appear in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday, February 22.
A 36-year-old female was charged with possession for supply of methamphetamine. She was bailed until Tuesday, February 22, to appear in the Wanganui District Court.
A 23-year-old male was charged with possession of cannabis and was bailed to appear on Tuesday, February 15, in Wanganui.
Other centres where warrants were executed in the sting were Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Foxton, Otaki, Murupara, Hamilton, Auckland and Northland, and involved police from Central, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Auckland and Northland.
Head of the operation Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann said Palmerston North had been the gang's distribution centre for methamphetamine.
More charges were expected to be laid over the next few days.
More than 100 North Island police officers executed more than 40 search warrants in 10 towns and cities on Thursday, seizing luxury cars, motorcycles, firearms and drugs.
Of the 31 people arrested, a number were Rebels members.
Detective Superintendent Brett Kane, of the Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand, said the operation had dealt a blow to a would-be New Zealand branch of the Australian Rebels Motorcycle Gang. A 16-year-old boy was referred to youth aid and a 30-year-old woman was let off with a warning and two young children were removed by CYFs in Palmerston North during the raid.
Mr Kane said the Rebels were still trying to gain a foothold in New Zealand but the operation had dealt a "severe blow" to their activities.
"This has disrupted the work of a serious organised criminal network which is peddling the misery of methamphetamine in our communities," he said.
The operation exposed what police believed to be an organised and large-scale methamphetamine network and produced alleged evidence that gangs, including the Rebels, were working together.
 
OPERATION STAMP
Palmerston North/Feilding/Horowhenua: Whanganui: 5 warrants executed, 3 arrests, methamphetamine recovered, over $10,000 cash recovered.
Hamilton: 3 warrants executed, 3 arrests, cannabis and over $10,000 cash recovered.
Northland: 7 warrants executed, 8 arrests, 3 firearms, cannabis plants, cannabis, methamphetamine and precursors recovered.
Murupara: 6 warrants executed, 4 arrests, 1 clan lab discovered and cannabis plants and tinnies recovered.
Auckland: 2 warrants executed, no arrests.