12 Dec 2024

Three arrested, drugs, weapons, cash seized in Taranaki police operation

5:25 pm on 12 December 2024
One of the vehicles that was seized by police.

One of the vehicles that was seized by police. Photo: NZ Police

Taranaki police have arrested three people and seized 1kg of methamphetamine along with rifles, pistols, cash and other drugs.

Police said the Taranaki Organised Crime unit executed a series of search warrants in New Plymouth on Wednesday and Thursday as part of an investigation into the sale and supply of meth in the Taranaki area over the last two months.

About 1kg of methamphetamine was located and seized, along with three rifles - one of which was a prohibited style - two pistols, cash, cannabis and LSD, police said.

Two men, aged 34 and 53, and a woman, aged 25, are to appear in court on a range of charges.

Police said the 34-year-old man was a patched member of the King Cobras.

The police's Asset Recovery Unit has also seized a boat, three vehicles, a Harley Davidson motorbike, a Honda road bike, and two dirt bikes from various locations in New Plymouth, and will allege through the courts that they were purchased with the profits from criminal activity.

A patched King Cobra jacket that was seized by police.

A patched King Cobra jacket that was seized by police. Photo: NZ Police

In a statement, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Paula Drewery said this seizure was significant for Taranaki communities.

"The methamphetamine seized in particular takes a large amount of drugs off the streets.

"Every seizure like this takes ill-gotten gains out of the hands of those who are causing misery in our communities by peddling highly addictive drugs to those who can least afford to use them."