4 S'poreans nabbed in NZ drug bust
Friday, Apr 15, 2016
Four Singaporeans were among 41 people detained in New Zealand on drug charges during a police operation to bust a drug ring, police said yesterday.
The four were charged with importing 700g of methamphetamine that was to be dealt in the city of Gisborne and its surrounding region, said the New Zealand police in a statement.
All the accused appeared in court over the last nine days and are facing a total of 245 charges of importing a Class-A drug, conspiracy to sell, selling and possession of methamphetamine for supply and cannabis dealing.
In the operation last week, which came after an eight-month investigation, the police searched 37 properties and seized eight of them, as well as bank accounts, vehicles, 400g of methamphetamine, firearms and cannabis.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Ford was quoted by the police as saying that children had been living in some of the properties searched.
"These children were of various ages and had been living in houses where the drug was being used and dealt," the police quoted Sgt Ford as saying.
"This is an appalling situation."
