A bag containing illicit drugs, seized as part of Operation Matata. Courtesy of NZ Police
New Zealand Police have laid 347 criminal charges against 43 gang associates, alleged to be part of a sophisticated criminal syndicate smuggling illicit drugs into the country aboard international flights.
Police and Customs have also seized 630 kilogrammes of methamphetamine with a street value of NZ$220.8 million (US$126.35 million), alongside 112 kilogrammes of cocaine worth $50.4 million, and around $800,000 in cash.
