Title: Operation COBRA disrupts Wellington Drug Community

Wellington Police have arrested more than 50 people over the past seven days in efforts to disrupt criminal activity. The focus has been on drug offending with detectives and general duties staff deployed to execute search warrants and make arrests in Wellington City, Lower and Upper Hutt, Kapiti Mana and the Wairarapa in a major operation codenamed Cobra.

Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson of the Wellington Metro CIB says, "We have caused significant disruption amongst those people involved in the drug trade and I am sure this operation sends a clear message that we are actively policing this offending."

People arrested are facing a variety of charges including:

* Manufacturing Methamphetamine
* Manufacturing Heroin
* Possession of Morphine for Supply and Supplying Morphine
* Supplying Methamphetamine and Possession for Supply of Methamphetamine
* Producing Cannabis Oil
* Cultivation of Cannabis
* Supplying Cannabis
* Firearms Offences
* Theft and Receiving of stolen property

Over 200 charges will be laid in respect to the alleged offending.

"We also targeted a number of people who appeared to have acquired assets beyond their income and as a result we have restrained $200,000 in bank accounts and are investigating the finances behind several properties with Proceeds of Crime legislation being utilised."

Detective Inspector Thomson also says, "Our community can be reassured that we are proactively involved in the receipt and analysis of intelligence on a regular basis and will continue to Police this area of crime. This operation has been three months in the planning and has involved more than 80 staff."

ENDS

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