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Source: Supplied
More than 13kg of cannabis and $40,000 were seized in the Wellington suburbs of Newtown and Kilbirnie last night as police pounced on a syndicate supplying millions of dollars worth of drugs.
The Wellington drug squad executed six search warrants at properties in the area, and recovered more than 13kg of cannabis and around $40,000 in cash.
The police sting was the result of a five month investigation named Operation Foxy, where the drug squad investigated a sophisticated commercial drug syndicate that supplied tens of thousands of dollars of cannabis each week.
A 68-year-old woman and 47-year-old man will appear in Wellington District Court today charged with cultivating and selling cannabis.
Three others were arrested for possession of cannabis and have been bailed to appear in court at a later date.
Wellington district organised crime manager detective inspector Darrin Thomson said the operation had severely impacted the cannabis supply chain in Wellington.
"This syndicate was responsible for millions of dollars worth of drugs flowing into our community and causing damage to many.
"We have been gathering evidence of the assets accumulated by this syndicate over a period of time and our Asset Recovery Unit is in the process of restraining several million dollars worth of residential property and cash."
It was believed the group had been operating for many years.
"Operation Foxy should send a clear message to those involved in such activity that if you are accumulating wealth, we will pursue all possible avenues in holding you to account and seize any assets gained from that activity."