Four men have been arrested after officers intercepted around 200kg of methamphetamine at the Port of Tauranga, exposing what police say was an “insider threat” at one of the country’s busiest ports.
A dramatic manhunt unfolded after two men allegedly broke into a shipping container at the port on December 11, which culminated with a car being stopped by road spikes.
Police alleged the four people arrested in relation to the seizure “all have associations with the Mongrel Mob, Comancheros and the Filthy Few.”
A police spokesperson added: “Customs officers became aware of a suspicious concealment on December 11, after a routine x-ray of a container at the port.
“At about 3pm, two men entered a restricted area and forced entry into the container.
“Police were alerted as the men loaded the suitcases into their car.
“The vehicle left the port driving recklessly and at speed through heavy traffic on the East Link Toll Road towards Whakatāne. Bay of Plenty District Police were able to stop the vehicle using road spikes on the toll road.
“The occupants fled on foot but were apprehended a short distance from the vehicle. Police recovered the five suitcases in the vehicle, along with other tools linked to the burglary.”
Police have alleged members of a “criminal operation may have been operating from within the port for some time.”
Detective Inspector Albie Alexander said the seizure would “make a significant dent into the supply of methamphetamine” in the Western Bay of Plenty.
“Even more significantly, we believe we have now shut down an insider threat at the port, and enquiries into this aspect will continue.”
It’s estimated the 200kg of methamphetamine equates to 10 million doses and its seizure has prevented up to $209.5m of social harm to the economy, he said.
According to police, while the retail value of 10 million doses may be as high as $75m, the wholesale value of the drugs is estimated to be between $14m and $32m.
The Customs Service said it had been seeing an “increase in legitimate imports being targeted by overseas criminal groups who conceal illicit drugs within freight containers or container contents, which are later recovered by New Zealand-based criminals.”
Two men, both aged 28, have been charged with burglary, possession of methamphetamine for supply, failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search, and possession of instruments for burglary.
On Wednesday, search warrants were also executed at “various locations around the Western Bay of Plenty, and a further two people were arrested” after the seizure..
The two men, aged 33 and 36, have been charged with a number of offences, including importation of methamphetamine.
