A six-month investigation into wastewater data revealing rising meth levels in Hawke’s Bay culminated in arrests of two gang members and one associate, as police conducted five searches across the region and Hastings under Operation Tukutuki.
Authorities recovered methamphetamine, cash, a 3D-printed firearm, and stolen goods during the raids. Detective Inspector James Keene noted that wastewater analysis showed methamphetamine had increasingly taken hold in parts of Hawke’s Bay, underscoring the scope of the problem.
Keene emphasized the importance of surprise in combating organized crime, saying warrants were executed simultaneously to prevent network members from tipping off others. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities anticipate filing additional charges against those taken into custody.
Three men—aged 39, 42, and 57—appeared in Hastings District Court on Wednesday. Two were patched Mongrel Mob members, and the third was an associate; they face multiple charges including possession for supply, and conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and cannabis.
Keene suggested local gangs may be driving drug distribution in the area and appeared unfazed by the potential harm inflicted by this activity. The operation spanned six months, with authorities not discounting further arrests as the case develops.
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