Police bust Mexican crime syndicate operating in Auckland

Police and customs say they have busted a Mexican criminal gang operating from central Auckland and suspected of importing and distributing methamphetamine.

Three arrests have been made and 180 kilograms of methamphetamine seized as part of the joint investigation into the international syndicate.

For three months, the National Organized Crime Group and the police customs department have been investigating the group’s illegal activities under the name ‘Operation Fix’.

Detective Inspector Tom Gollan says the investigation has resulted in enforcement activity over the past two weeks.

On July 26, customs officials discovered a significant quantity of approximately 175kg of meth at the Port of Tauranga.

The container was full of scrap metal and came from Mexico.

“On Monday, Customs notified police of an alert which resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old man at Auckland Airport as he attempted to leave New Zealand,” Gollan said.

“Further searches have since been conducted, resulting in two more arrests.”

This week, police, supported by customs, executed search warrants on hotel rooms and Air BnB apartments in Auckland’s CBD.

Another five kilograms of methamphetamine were found during searches, Gollan said.

“We believe the methamphetamine seized in the operation all originated in Mexico and has a retail value of approximately $63 million.”

All three men, aged 23, 27 and 32, are Mexican nationals and appeared in court in Auckland on Wednesday.

They face serious charges, including participating in an organised criminal organisation, importing methamphetamine and possessing and supplying methamphetamine.

Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams says this has been a significant and complex joint operation which has prevented tens of millions of dollars from being diverted to transnational criminal activity in New Zealand.

“It is satisfying to know that the months of painstaking investigative work that have gone into this operation are contributing to the success of New Zealand law enforcement in dismantling the groups that target New Zealand in an attempt to amass criminal profits at enormous social and economic cost to our communities and our country,” he said.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely to be filed.

This week’s operation sees the 27^and transnational organised crime cell identified and disbanded by the National Organised Crime Group and Customs over the past seven years.

Investigations are still ongoing into whether this group can be linked to a specific Mexican cartel.

“This seizure is an important find and demonstrates the importance of cooperation between police, customs and foreign partners in the fight against transnational organised crime,” said Gollan.

“This represents approximately nine million doses of methamphetamine, and after seizure, nearly $200 million in social harm has been prevented.”