A police investigation has shut down a criminal syndicate’s operation, allegedly importing and distributing a concoction of illegal substances across parts of the upper North Island.

On Thursday, six arrests were made at addresses across the Auckland and Waikato regions.

Police also arrested a man alleged to be a key player in the operation, after he got off a domestic flight at Auckland Airport.

This week's execution is a result of Operation Banner, an investigation run by the Auckland Money Laundering Team since the beginning of the year.

Cash recovered under Operation Banner.

Overall, police have recovered nearly $1 million in cash, 4.5kg of methamphetamine as well as LSD, cocaine, and ketamine. 

Numerous electronic devices have been seized as part of the ongoing Police investigation.

A large portion of methamphetamine recovered during the search.

The officer in charge of the team, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Dunhill, said the operation was allegedly distributing across the Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty areas.

“We will allege this organised criminal group used a range of delivery methods to try and outwit law enforcement agencies in New Zealand and abroad.

“This included allegedly using vacant rental properties or storage units to facilitate importations and deliveries.

“Our investigation is also examining where the profit of this misery is ending up.”

The arrests are a result of months of painstaking and detailed investigation work, said Dunhill.

“Police staff have been executing search warrants across Auckland and the Waikato today, with support from the Armed Offenders Squad in Hamilton.

“We have been working closely with our partners at Customs, as well as international agencies throughout the course of this year over the investigation.”

Three hundred LSD tabs recovered during the search.

All six men, aged between 26 and 41, were expected in the Auckland District Court on Thusday afternoon.

Most charged face serious drugs offences including importing controlled drugs, possession for supply of methamphetamine and conspiring to import a class B controlled drug.

Further arrests are likely, said Dunhill.

“We have seized numerous devices for forensic investigation, and this will form part of the ongoing investigation into money laundering offences.

“The connection between money and drugs in the criminal environment remains of strong interest to Police, as these organised criminal groups continue to profit off the misery that they are selling into communities.

“Their operations are far from innocent given the far-reaching impacts drugs have on the wider community, from health through to further criminal offences being carried out.”

Recovered methamphetamine.

• BY THE NUMBERS:

- 12 search warrants
- 6 arrests
- $800,000 in cash
- 4.5kg methamphetamine
- 300 LSD tabs
- 250g cocaine
- 250g ketamine