• Police discovered multiple illicit drugs and cash hidden inside a high value motorhome near Invercargill.
• Accused fifty one year old allegedly supplied methamphetamine and illegally possessed ammunition alongside other narcotics.
• Officers now seek forfeiture of the two hundred thousand dollar vehicle through Proceeds of Crime.
Police across Southland have closed the door on one of the region’s more unusual drug networks, arresting a 51-year-old Invercargill man after discovering a mobile stash of Class A and other narcotics inside a late-model campervan. Officers located pre-packaged methamphetamine, LSD tabs, cannabis, morphine and an assortment of glassware and digital scales when they stopped the vehicle during an operation that unfolded over several days.
Alongside the drugs police reported seizing a “significant amount” of cash, several mobile phones believed to contain evidence of supply, and an ammunition belt loaded with thirteen 12-gauge shotgun cartridges. A follow-up search of a linked address recovered further items of interest. The campervan, estimated to be worth more than $200,000, has been restrained and police have signalled their intention to apply for permanent forfeiture under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.
“Police will continue to disrupt the supply of harmful substances into our communities and hold offenders to account,” says Inspector Mike Bowman, Area Commander Southland.
“This arrest is the result of significant and complex work by officers from all over the southern policing district.
“Every time we can take drug dealers, who trade on people’s suffering, off the streets, it makes our communities safer.
“Drug dealing and the downstream effects, such as drug-related crime, causes harm that we all feel.
“Southern Police will continue to stamp out drug dealing wherever we see it.”
Inspector Bowman added that specialist asset-recovery staff, detectives, uniformed patrols and intelligence analysts had all contributed to the investigation, underscoring the “whole-of-district, multi-team effort” he said was required to curb the region’s meth trade.
The arrested man faces six charges: possession of methamphetamine for supply, supplying methamphetamine, possession of morphine, possession of LSD, unlawful possession of ammunition and obstructing police. He appeared briefly in the Dunedin District Court earlier this week and was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to reappear on 21 August.
Police encourage anyone with information about drug dealing to contact them directly or via Crimestoppers. Meanwhile, officers intend to forensically examine the recovered mobile devices in an effort to map the accused’s alleged supply network and identify further suspects.