2 Nov 2016

Kiwis netted in international online drug sting

10:51 am on 2 November 2016

Six New Zealanders have been arrested as part of an international sting targeting people buying and selling drugs online.

Operation Hyperion, which involved 21 agencies around the world, intercepted drugs that were being ordered online and sent through the mail, and traced them to those responsible.

Police were able to identify almost 300 people in New Zealand involved in the online drug trade.

New Zealand police's national high tech crime group manager, Kelly Knight, said the number of people buying drugs online was growing both here and overseas.

She said a range of drugs, including meth, cocaine, heroin, LSD and ecstasy, were being ordered online.

"The purpose of it was to make a warning to those using the criminal marketplaces that police are looking and law enforcement agencies internationally are working together, Ms Knight said.

"And to basically put people on notice that you can't do this without expecting law enforcement to turn up at your door."

Police were still working through what charges those arrested would face, Ms Knight said.

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