Police have seized more than 200 kilograms of methamphetamine and arrested two people as part of a major drug operation run by the National Organised Crime Group.
One of the containers of methamphetamine seized by police today. Photo: NZ Police / Supplied
Police said this morning they had searched a central Auckland apartment complex and found the drugs valued about $144 million inside plastic storage containers which were themselves inside cardboard boxes in a wardrobe.
They arrested two British nationals - a 60-year-old man who was at the scene and, later, a 49-year-old who they said was supporting and aiding him.
One of the men was trying to flee the country at the time.
Both have been charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply and remanded in custody without plea.
The 60-year-old is is due to appear at Auckland District Court on 4 September, while the 49-year-old was expected to appear in the Manukau District Court on 27 August.
One of the containers of methamphetamine seized by police today. Photo: NZ Police / Supplied
Detective Inspector Paul Newman said the seizure under Operation Essex, which targeted members of an overseas criminal organisation working in New Zealand, went a long way to preventing meth-related harm in our communities.
"This quantity of methamphetamine would have caused an extraordinary amount of harm and we would have all suffered as a result," Mr Newman said.
The arrests were not part of the New Zealand-wide operation which netted about 20kg of the drug as well as about $1m in cash and assets after raids on Wednesday.
Those raids by about 150 officers were spread across Auckland, Canterbury and Southland and led to 10 arrests.
