Nine people have been arrested and $3 million worth of assets have been seized after the police busted a sophisticated drug dealing and money laundering operation in Manawatū.
The arrests were made over the last two days at a number of properties in Shannon and Palmerston North, police said.
The assets seized include 37 high-performance vehicles, five properties and about $210,000 in cash.
Officers also found three firearms, including an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a shotgun. A large quantity of class A drugs were also found.
The arrests followed a long-running covert investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine and associated money laundering activity throughout the lower central North Island, police said.
Detective Inspector Brent Matuku said officials have made a “substantial dent” in drug dealing in the community.
“Police have this week made a substantial dent in drug dealing and other criminal activity in our community,” he said.