Wellington Police investigators have arrested more than 30 people in the last five days during a short-term, high-impact crime operation targeting drugs, property and weapons offences.
Detective Senior Sergeant Darrin Thomson, head of the Wellington Metro Crime Unit, says more than 40 search warrants were executed during Operation Orca, aimed at mid to lower level cannabis dealers and those involved in trading property for drugs.
The search warrants were spread across the Wellington District including the city area, Kapiti-Mana, Wairarapa and Upper Hutt.
Those arrested have either appeared or have been bailed to appear in court in the coming days.
Charges laid against them include: • Selling cannabis • Possession of cannabis for supply • Cultivating cannabis • Unlawful possession of firearms • Unlawful possession of restricted weapons (stun guns) • Receiving stolen property • Possession of drug instruments • Possession of Methamphetamine, Ecstasy, LSD, prescription medicines, GBL, cannabis oil.
Detective Senior Sergeant Thomson says Operation Orca involved more than 30 police, led by the Wellington Organised Crime Unit, with support from other police staff around the district.
"This was a successful intelligence-driven operation with arrests on a wide variety of drugs, property and firearms offences," he says.
"We found some very concerning circumstances during the execution of these warrants.
"We are concerned at the continued trend that a number of these people have armed themselves with potentially lethal weapons. This represents a risk to the community and police officers executing their powers."
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Media contact: Detective Senior Sergeant Darrin Thomson
Wellington Metro Crime Unit
Wellington Police
Telephone 04 496 3514