Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, August 12, 2024
A major drug smuggling syndicate operating in New Zealand has been dismantled following a two-year international investigation, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of millions in assets.
Auckland Crackdown
Authorities have taken a decisive step against organised crime with the culmination of Operation Havana, a collaborative effort involving the National Organised Crime Group, New Zealand Customs, and international law enforcement agencies.
The operation targeted a syndicate allegedly using a ‘scattergun’ method to smuggle drugs into New Zealand through the international postal system. This approach involved sending numerous smaller parcels, each containing varying quantities of illegal substances, to multiple addresses across Auckland, with a concentration in the Flat Bush area.
This week, the investigation reached a significant turning point as law enforcement executed 17 search warrants across Auckland.
These raids resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals and the confiscation of a large cache of illicit drugs and $500,000 in cash. Additionally, authorities have restrained approximately $4 million in assets, including two houses and three vehicles, under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.
Detective Inspector Tom Gollan, who led the investigation, shared that the operation has been in progress since 2022. During this period, Customs intercepted numerous parcels containing controlled substances destined for Auckland.
The packages, typically weighing between one and ten kilograms, were often cleverly concealed, but their sheer number and varying sizes revealed the scattergun smuggling technique.
“The syndicate’s use of the mail system to import drugs over an extended period of time was extensive,” said Detective Inspector Gollan. “However, the coordinated efforts of New Zealand and US authorities have dealt a significant blow to this group’s operations both here and in the United States.”
Among the substantial seizures made during the investigation were 183.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 29 litres of liquid methamphetamine, 35.8 kilograms of pseudoephedrine, and 16.7 kilograms of MDMA.
The recent raids also uncovered two kilograms of cocaine, 350 grams of methamphetamine, and four kilograms of ephedrine. The social harm prevented by seizing the crystallised methamphetamine alone is estimated at more than $200 million.
The 12 individuals arrested include nine men aged between 34 and 54 and three women aged 36, 37, and 38. They are now facing a range of serious charges, including importing Class A, B, and C controlled drugs, conspiracy to import Class A drugs, and participating in an organised criminal group. All have appeared in the Auckland District Court.
International collaboration
The success of Operation Havana highlights the importance of international collaboration in tackling transnational organised crime. The operation was bolstered by close cooperation between New Zealand authorities and a joint task force consisting of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), based in Los Angeles. Intelligence sharing and coordinated efforts between these agencies were crucial in identifying and dismantling the syndicate’s operations on both sides of the Pacific.
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams praised the operation as a prime example of effective international partnership. He emphasised that targeting both small and large drug shipments at the border is essential to disrupting criminal networks. “These partnerships have been crucial in identifying and dismantling the syndicate on both sides of the Pacific,” Mr Adams said.
“This operation underscores the effectiveness of targeting both small and large drug shipments at the border and the importance of frontline officers in intercepting these shipments before they can reach our communities.”
With the investigation still ongoing, authorities have not ruled out further arrests as they continue to dismantle the remnants of the syndicate’s operations. The success of Operation Havana serves as a powerful reminder of the reach of transnational organised crime and the critical role of international partnerships in combating it.
Operation Havana marks a significant victory in the fight against drug smuggling and organised crime, reinforcing the message that such activities will be met with concerted and effective action by law enforcement.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
