Police have seized $34,000 in cash, drugs and firearms as part of the Operation Cobalt inquiry.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
In Counties Manukau, inquiries have continued into drug dealing in the Ōtara community following successful search warrants that were executed last month.
Detective Inspector Aaron Proctor said officers stopped a vehicle linked to the Tribesmen motorcycle gang in the Ōtara area.
Almost $30,000 in cash was seized. The van's two occupants have not been charged, Proctor said.
Further south, a search warrant was also carried out at a rural address in Counties Manukau resulting in
two firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine and MDMA being recovered.
Detective Inspector Proctor said more than $4000 in cash was also seized.
"Police also located more than three kilograms of cannabis on the property, which is estimated to have a street value of around $46,000."
A 53-year-old man, who has associations to various gangs, is facing charges relating to unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of cannabis for supply.
"Police are continuing to focus on a range of illegal activities being committed by members and associates of gangs in the community," Proctor said.
"This offending has a significant impact on the wellbeing of our communities and police reiterate that we have no tolerance for such illegal activity."
Four facing charges after South Island raids
Meanwhile, police have charged four people they said have Aotearoa Natives gang links, following raids in Christchurch and Greymouth.
The arrests and charges have been laid as part of Operation Cobalt targeting gangs.
They said the gang's president, who is 34, was one of the people who has been arrested. The others were a woman, aged 26, a man, 32, and another man, 34.
The four people were facing a number of charges, including arson, conspiring to commit assault and aggravated robbery, drug supply and unauthorised use of a mobile phone by a prisoner.
