Continued searches yield no more drugs

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 2

Continued searches yield no more drugs

PA Auckland The Auckland police, and customs officers who smashed a big cocaine ring on Tuesday completed their searches of several properties yesterday but no more drugs were found.

The 10 police and customs officers were aided by Army staff using metal detectors.

Detective Senior-Sergeant Wally Hayes, of the Auckland Central drug squad, said that the officers had returned to some of the 11 homes raided early on Tuesday. Cocaine with a street value of more than $150,000

and four kilograms of cannabis were found by the officers, and 12 people, including an airline steward and hostess, a radio announcer, and a waterside worker were arrested in connection with the seizings. Detective Senior-Sergeant Hayes said that they were not looking specifically for anybody else.

The police believed the bigger importing and distribution sides of the ring had been broken, but they were worried that because of the large amounts of cocaine available in the United States, the New Zealand market could be flooded. The collector of Customs

at Auckland, Mr Mike Howley, said surveillance of airports and seaports would probably be stepped up. The Nelson police on Tuesday seized 32kg of cannabis being prepared for sale at Bainham in Golden Bay. It had an estimated street value of $140,000.

The cannabis had already been harvested and was being dried. The haul included a plastic rubbish bin full of fine quality cannabis heads, a heater, and various other bags containing plant material, a police spokesman said.

At least two people would appear in court this week in relation to the seizing.