Drugs swoop nets 50
A young undercover policeman who lived and worked within Christchurch’s crime and drugs underworld for 11 months was yesterday responsible for more than 50 arrests.
About 135 policemen swooped simultaneously on about 50 addresses in “Operation Sixty,” which started at 7 a.m.
Drugs, firearms, and about $40,000 were recovered in the raids.
The Christchurch police were kept “flat out” throughout the day processing the arrested persons, who included a number of women.
Many of those arrested appeared in the District Court yesterday afternoon. Most faced burglary, receiving, or drug charges.
The drugs seized were mainly cannabis and hashish.
A cut-down shotgun was
found in one house, and a cannabis plantation in the attic of another.
The stolen property recovered included colour television sets, stereo equipment, video recorders, and radio cassette players. The owners of much of the property were known, said a police spokesman. Detective Senior-Sergeant A. C. Lynskey said that the undercover constable had been very successful in infiltrating drug and receiving rings in Christchurch over a period of 11 months. “He did an excellent job,” said Mr Lynskey.
While the constable’s information had led to the arrests, there was also a lot of planning and organisation needed to ensure the success of anything as big and complex as “Operation Sixtv.”
Mr Lynskey described “Operation Sixty” as a "clean-up.”
“It is one of the bigger operations we have had here,” he said. Twenty persons were arrested on drugs, burglary, and receiving charges after the Christchurch police raided about 20 houses last September. The commander of the Christchurch police district, Deputy Assistant Commissioner G. E. • Twentyman. said that “Operation Sixty” was just a part of a coordinated attack on the rising crime rate.
About $3 million worth of property was stolen in house burglaries alone in Christchurch during the first six months of last year.
It is believed that the constable whose work led to yesterday's arrest will now take a well deserved holiday before resuming normal duties.
Court appearances, page 7
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Press, 17 June 1983, Page 1
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336Drugs swoop nets 50 Press, 17 June 1983, Page 1
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