Operation Nest winds up

This morning saw the termination phase of Operation Nest take place based predominantly in the Waitaki, but resulting in arrests throughout the country.

Operation Nest is an organised crime operation targeting drugs and property and has been running for over a year.

The operation has involved a variety of investigative techniques, one of which was the deployment of police under cover agents in Oamaru over recent months.  The evidence gathered by these agents forms the basis for a number of charges resulting from the operation.

To date, 13 people have been arrested, some in the greater Auckland area, some Whakatane but the majority in Oamaru.

Charges are still being finalised, however I anticipate a significant number relating principally to the dealing in Class B Controlled Drugs and predominantly the prescription medications Morphine, Ritalin and Methadone.

Some of those arrested have already appeared in the Oamaru District Court; at least four will appear tomorrow with the balance likely to appear later today.

Over sixty police staff have been deployed across the country, the majority in the Oamaru area, those working locally sourced from South Canterbury, Dunedin, Central Otago and the Waitaki supported by staff from the Customs Service.

The operation represents the cumulation of a significant operation that has put pressure on Waitaki resources but with the hopeful benefit of reducing the availability of illegal drugs locally.