Ten people have been arrested and more than six kilograms of methamphetamine seized in a Police and Customs sting across three cities.
Methamphetamine was also found concealed within a religious image. Photo: Supplied / Police
In a statement, police said they seized $455,000 in cash, 435 grams of methamphetamine and a variety of clandestine lab-related items after search warrants were executed in the Wellington and Waikato regions on Wednesday.
A kilogram of cocaine and an additional six kilograms of methamphetamine were also intercepted by customs as part of the operation.
Police executed 11 search warrants at residential properties across Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Hamilton as part of Operation Bali, a joint effort between customs and police to target the importation, sale and distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine was found concealed in a steel plate compactor Photo: Supplied / Police
Police said the operation was part of a plan to disrupt trans-national organised crime groups which were causing enormous harm in the country.
Seven men and three women, aged between 24 and 57 were arrested in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Hamilton yesterday.
They will all appear in the Wellington District Court today on a range of drug-related charges.
National Organised Crime Group Director Detective Superintendent Greg Williams said Customs and Police would continue to target these groups and any affiliates.
"These groups are intent on pumping as much illicit drugs as they can into our communities causing considerable social harm, crime and victimisation," Williams said.
"This should serve as a warning to criminals everywhere who are attempting to bring drugs into New Zealand that they will be detected and they will be held accountable."
New Zealand Customs' spokesperson Dana McDonald said the combined effort of the two agencies had enabled authorities to "uncover a wider ring of opportunist drug smuggles" and dismantle their plans.
