Police in Southland have again moved to block the flow of illegal drugs into local communities, arresting an Invercargill woman and seizing class A and class B substances during a mid-week raid.
Officers from the Southland Police Organised Crime Group executed a search warrant at a rural home in Mabel Bush on Tuesday morning. Inside they found tabs of LSD, a quantity of MDMA, dried cannabis and a shotgun. Detectives believe the property was being used as a hub to supply drugs across the wider region.
The search is the latest action under Operation Strata, a long-running crackdown on dealers thought to have links with gangs operating throughout the lower South Island. Police say sixteen warrants have been executed and eleven people arrested in the past fortnight alone, disrupting what they describe as an “inter-connected chain” of supply.
“We have a pretty simple message - if you sell drugs, expect Police to be in touch,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird.
“We simply will not tolerate drug dealers profiting from the suffering and harm of others.”
The 40-year-old woman arrested in Tuesday’s operation now faces charges of offering to supply LSD, possession of LSD for supply, and possession of MDMA and cannabis. She appeared in court yesterday and was remanded on bail while further enquiries continue.
Around thirty staff drawn from specialist groups across the Southern District and the wider South Island, including the Gang Disruption Unit based in Christchurch, remain dedicated to the operation. Detective Senior Sergeant Baird says the team is already planning more warrants.
Police are again asking anyone who sees or hears about drug dealing to contact them by phoning 105 or by visiting their local station. Information can also be passed on anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Officers also stress that support is available for people struggling with substance use. Free, confidential help can be accessed by calling the Alcohol and Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797 or by texting 8681.
Police say eliminating the trade in synthetic and party drugs is a long game, but every seizure removes harmful substances from the streets and makes communities safer for families across the south.