Three people have been arrested and charged with supplying methamphetamine following a number of search warrants conducted by West Coast Police.

Two women, aged 33 and 36, and a 34-year-old man appeared in Greymouth District Court on Thursday on methamphetamine charges.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kirsten Norton says illicit drug dealing often goes hand-in-hand with property offending and weapon possession, all of which causes significant harm to our communities.

Last Friday, 15 May, a 48-year-old Hells Angels Auckland patched gang member was arrested in Kumara.

He was in possession of an amount of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than $500,000, cash, ammunition, and a pistol.

Detective Senior Sergeant Norton says seizing this methamphetamine and having it out of circulation will help eliminate significant social harm in our community.

Since late March, West Coast Police have progressed a number of investigations across the region in relation to organised criminal activity, property offending, and methamphetamine supply.

Last week, a 41-year-old man with gang links was arrested in Reefton for possession of cannabis for supply.

He was also in possession of a substantial amount of cash at the time of his arrest.

A 36-year-old Westport woman was also arrested and charged with both possession of methamphetamine and dealing methamphetamine as well as driving charges, and she is remanded in custody until 30 June.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kirsten Norton says in recent weeks, several Westport locals have been charged with burglary and a number of Greymouth locals charged with receiving, in relation to a spate of commercial burglaries in Westport since late February.

Some of these people remain in custody.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kirsten Norton says nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic has helped disrupt some of the established channels of methamphetamine supply, and West Coast Police have been working hard continuing to disrupt this supply even further.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kirsten Norton says police are confident the arrests and seizures made have had an impact, and “our work in this area will be ongoing.”

“Our message to those who are struggling with an addiction to methamphetamine – please get help.”

“Police are working hard to make the drug harder to obtain.”

“The social harm the drug causes in our communities is significant, both as a direct result of methamphetamine use, but also the associated offending it promotes such as property theft. “