Police searched properties in Flat Bush and Howick among 19 warrants in a 10-month investigation they say uncovered one of the largest cannabis operations of its kind.
Police allege a 36-year-old Flat Bush man led a cannabis syndicate that operated and supplied grow houses across Auckland.
The accused appeared in the Manukau District Court on 20 August on six charges, among them participating in an organised criminal group, money laundering, supplying equipment used in cannabis cultivation and possession of cannabis for supply.
He was one of 12 people arrested after Police executed 19 search warrants around Auckland late last week. The warrants were part of Operation Blackout, a 10-month investigation into what Police describe as a Vietnamese organised criminal group.
“We have deliberately taken the time to investigate the syndicate’s activities and build a picture of its network, which we will allege is one of the largest of its kind,” Detective Senior Sergeant John Brunton said.
The National Organised Crime Group led the investigation, working with Immigration New Zealand and New Zealand Customs.
The warrants were executed at properties in Flat Bush, Howick, Sylvia Park, Wiri and Massey, Police said.
Police did not say how many of the 19 properties were searched in each suburb. They have not said whether the Flat Bush and Howick addresses were grow houses or served some other purpose.
Officers seized about $1.25 million worth of cannabis cultivation equipment and $80,000 in cash. Around 35 kilograms of cannabis and several large bags of MDMA pills were also taken.
A pistol and ammunition were found at a property in Massey.
More than five tonnes of cannabis material was seized at over 50 rental properties across the investigation, and the syndicate was run out of suburban Auckland, Police said.
Two women and nine men also face charges relating to participating in an organised criminal group, money laundering and drugs offences.
Eleven Vietnamese nationals acting as crop-sitters have since been deported, Brunton said.
“Five further crop-sitters remain in New Zealand pending prosecution,” he said.
The Flat Bush man is due back in the Manukau District Court in November.
