drug bust

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Beech", has led to the arrest of 12 people with alleged links to the Mexican drug cartel.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the operation spanned six weeks and involved intensive surveillance and resources.

"This was an opportunity to catch the syndicate - the group of people that were capable of receiving it, landing it and then distributing it across Australia," Commissioner Blanch said.

"The message from the WA Police Force is unchanged … we will come after you, regardless of where you live on this earth."

A shipment of 613 kilograms of the drug - with what police say is a retail value of more than $245 million - was stopped at Auckland Airport last Thursday.

Six people aged between 27 and 36 have been arrested and some have links to the Comancheros motorcycle gang.

Investigators made further enquiries into the intercepted shipment over recent days and search warrants were executed across South Auckland yesterday.

Officers intercepted a truck carrying 55 million methamphetamine tablets and more than 1.5 tonnes of crystal meth, the UN's crime agency said.

The discovery came after police stopped a truck carrying beer crates in Bokeo, which borders Thailand and Myanmar.

The area - known as the Golden Triangle - has a long history of being a major drug-producing hotspot.

Jeremy Douglas, Southeast Asia regional representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), told the BBC it was "by far the largest seizure in the history of East and Southeast Asia".

Up to five million dollars' worth of drugs was seized in a major operation targeting the importation of methamphetamine and other drugs into New Zealand.

A New Zealand man has allegedly been operating overseas since 2016, sending drugs to associates back here via multiple countries and using a variety of ways to conceal the drugs.

He was arrested at the border in Italy on February 2.

Police have also arrested six of his alleged associates living in New Zealand after search warrants were carried out throughout the wider Auckland region last week.

Police seized 2 packs of cocaine (1.04 grams), 1.43 grams of cannabis, 2 live .22 bullets and over $5,000 pa’anga cash in the raid over the weekend.

The four suspects all in their 40’s are from Kolomotu’a, Kolofo’ou, Fangaloto and Vaini.

They have been charged accordingly.

“These arrests should reassure the community that preventing illicit drugs supply is a high priority for Police. We will continue to target those who supply drugs within our community, and hold them to account for their crimes,” said A/Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea.

With the help from Police Detector Dog Zander, Police seized 4,847 of illegally imported live bullets, 4 packs of methamphetamine (1.86 grams), and 61.3 grams of cannabis.

The nine arrested included a 46-year-old man from Pelehake, a 60-year-old man from Ha’atu’a ‘Eua, a 50-year-old man from Fanga, a 49-year-old man from Hauloto, three men between the age of 31 to 45 from Vaini, a 36-year-old man from Tatakamotonga and a 35-year-old man from Longolongo.

The Drug Enforcement Taskforce arrested the officer on Thursday after Customs Officers intercepted the drugs at the Queen Salote Wharf on Tuesday.

The drugs consisted of 6.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 625.29 grams of cannabis, and 107.29 grams of cannabis oil, which were allegedly smuggled into the country through a shipment from the United States of America.

Illegal firearms, 1 M4 Assault rifle, 2 Glock pistols and 1 handgun with relevant ammunition were allegedly found in the shipment.

A 28 year-old-man was arrested with the drugs at his residence in Fahefa.

The police commissioner, Stephen Caldwell, thanked the public for its support in helping rid the community of drug peddlers.

Two other men were also arrested for possession of cannabis, drug paraphenalia and live ammunition.

Ten people including a woman were arrested on Friday after police seized cannabis, ammunition and cash in a raid.

On Saturday, seven men were arrested after police found cannabis, ammunition and cash in another raid.

A 40-year-old-man of Lapaha was arrested at Ngele’ia on Sunday after he was allegedly found with 21 packs of methamphetamine

Police also arrested a 32-year-old-man of Vaini on the same day after he was allegedly found with cannabis.

All the suspects are in police custody while investigations continue.

AFP arrested ‘Iunisitani Toluta’u, 32, with another man and have seized approximately 38 kilograms of methamphetamine trafficked through Sydney airport.

Kaniva News reports both men were scheduled to appear before Sydney Central Local Court on Thursday to face charges relating to their alleged involvement in this criminal enterprise.

Toluta’u of Campsie, who was an employee of an airport service provider, allegedly used his access to secure areas at Sydney Airport to offload two rucksacks from the luggage hold of an incoming flight from Canada on Wednesday, 6 March 2019.