Police have busted six methamphetamine labs in 24 hours around Auckland and Northland.
On Tuesday, Counties Manukau police unearthed three P labs while searching four homes in Otara/Manurewa and Northland police discovered three as they searched 10 sites while investigating a crime syndicate that rents top-end holiday accommodation, motels and baches to make P.
One lab found in Howick was operating out of a shipping container. Another was discovered in a Whangarei storage unit while a third was in Pakiri, north of Auckland.
Police uncovered more than 10g of methamphetamine as well as firearms, chemical components, utensils, cannabis and cultivation equipment at the various lab sites.
At a Wellsford house, a search also found stolen laptops and ammunition.
Police said the crime syndicate regularly rented motels, baches and holiday accommodation to use as a base for manufacturing P.
Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the group normally chose accommodation along coastal areas of Auckland and Northland, and on beaches such as Pakiri.
The group also used storage units for their equipment and chemicals.
One man was arrested over the searches in Counties Manukau and appeared in Manukau District Court on charges of possessing methamphetamine for supply, possessing precursor equipment and chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine, and for breaching home detention conditions.
The 37-year-old South Auckland man was remanded in custody to reappear on September 29.
Police were still speaking to other occupants of the houses.
Police were looking for more people in connection to the crime syndicate labs, Northland acting district manager Paul Dimery said.
"There are still a number of offenders to locate in relation to these search warrants. However, we are still actively looking for these people and will find them."
He urged landlords and agents to carefully examine who rented from them.
"If people are aware of any suspicious activity in their rental properties then they should contact police immediately, as some of these offenders are known to carry firearms and are willingly contaminating top end holiday accommodations.''
