Police can confirm that a major Police operation targeting the criminal activities of the Head Hunters gang is currently underway across greater Auckland, and in parts of the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Northland.

Just after 6am, nearly a hundred and eighty Police officers, launched search warrants at more than 30 properties across Auckland. Searches are also underway in Huntly, Ruakaka and Tauranga.  

Detectives from Police’s Organised Financial Crime Agency (OFCANZ), who are leading the operation, are being assisted by officers from the Auckland City, Waitemata, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Waikato Police districts.

The Armed Offenders Squad have been involved at several locations as a precautionary measure,  and Police can confirm they are currently deployed at Marua Road in Ellerslie. 

Today’s raids are the termination phase of Operation Sylvester, a Police investigation into the criminal activities of the Head Hunters gang, including the alleged large-scale production and supply of methamphetamine by a syndicate of members and affiliates.

“The ripple effect that this criminal offending has on law-abiding New Zealanders can’t be underestimated and today aims to reduce the very real harm that this drug continues to cause people across all sectors of our community” says Detective Inspector Bruce Good, OFCANZ Auckland.

“This is not about targeting people solely because they are in a gang. It’s about their criminal activity which continues to drive crime, that in turn affects all of us throughout New Zealand .  We’re also planning to seize assets today worth around $4 million, including a large number of very expensive, high-end cars, machinery, bank accounts and property” says Det Insp Good.

A number of people have been detained by Police in the past few hours and are now being interviewed in relation to manufacturing and supplying meth, money laundering, unlawfully possessing firearms and fraud.

Further updates will be provided throughout the day.