11 communities are dealing with charges after police foiled a plan to import drugs from Brazil via a delivery container.
Two senior members of the Head Hunters gang were among 11 people arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 50 kilograms (110 lb) of cocaine from Brazil to untouched Zealand ahead of the show. Was imposed.
They were caught as part of Operation Success Inn, a joint investigation between Untouched Zeeland Police and Untouched Zeeland Customs Providers.
A task force was formed after police received information that a high-risk cargo shipment would begin at the Port of Tauranga in early February.
Detective Inspector Tom Golan, of the police National Organized Crime Team, said the team had made “extensive preparations” to recover the cocaine as soon as it arrived.
“This included the purchase of walkie-talkie radios, an army ‘gilli’ (camouflage) suit, bolt cutters, gloves, security-branded T-shirts and high visibility gear. These methods, coupled with the alleged possession of illegal firearms, demonstrate the lengths to which criminal enterprises are willing to go to avoid detection and import illegal drugs into New Zealand,” he said.
Initially, four men aged between 22 and 36 were arrested, but the investigation led to multiple search warrants being issued in Auckland and Tauranga and another seven arrests. Two of them were men, aged 50 and 59, who were both believed to be senior members of the Head Hunters gang.
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One of the hottest guns seized from Head Hunters gang participants during a raid following a failed attempt to allegedly import 50 kilograms of cocaine into Untouched Zeeland. Courtesy New Zealand Police
“A large number of firearms, including three semi-automatic and two fully automatic rifles, were located and confiscated,” Golan said. “A 50-year-old male was arrested … and a loaded .22 caliber pistol was found in his possession.”
All 11 men are facing charges in connection with the importation, conspiracy and possession of cocaine, while two are also facing charges in connection with the ownership of firearms. Police say it is conceivable that additional charges may be imposed.
Wastewater testing shows methamphetamine is still the most commonly consumed drug in untouched Zealand.
However, recently the cocaine market has grown considerably.
In 2009, the Customs Department had banned only 3 kg of the Class-A drug. On the other hand, since 2017, there have been several seizures of more than 100 kg, including a documented interception of 700 kg of cargo at the Port of Tauranga in March 2022. If so, the ship had traveled from Ecuador via Panama.
A 25kg bag of cocaine, certainly one of two, seized from a delivery container at the Port of Tauranga. Courtesy New Zealand Police
The quantity of cocaine seized increased by 93% in 2022/23 compared to the previous 3 years.
NZ Drug Fighting executive director Sarah Helm said the increase was likely due to the global development of improved manufacturing and availability.
Ending Prezen, a joint investigation through Untouched Zeeland law enforcement found approximately four tons of cocaine floating through the Pacific Ocean looking for collection. Police, on the other hand, said they believed almost all of these items were destined for Australia.
Cocaine traffickers are becoming more creative in their efforts to avoid detection.
In this appearance in April, NZ forces helped to stop a ship that had a field attached to its hull. The box was found to contain an electromagnet, which kept it from being shipped, and was filled with 7 kilograms of cocaine, worth $3.15 million in untouched Zealand.
The 2023 Global Drug Document revealed that the street price of cocaine in Australia and untouched Zealand is possibly the highest on earth.
