Seven people with connections to the Head Hunters have appeared in court today after police launched a series of early morning raids on the gang.
The six men and one woman were among 10 arrested as part of Operation Sylvester, which mobilised 180 police officers targeting properties across Auckland, Ruakaka, Huntly and Tauranga.
All seven accused entered no plea and were granted interim name suppression. Four were remanded in custody and three were granted bail.
They appeared in the Auckland District Court before Judge Fitzgerald.
Three of the 10 charged are current inmates at Auckland's Mt Eden Correction Facility and would appear in court at a later date, police said.
The 10 face charges including manufacturing methamphetamine, supplying methamphetamine, possession of precursor substances, possession of methamphetamine for supply, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession of a pistol, unlawful possession of ammunition, participating in an organised crime group, money laundering, possession for supply of a class C controlled drug, supplying a class C controlled drug, supplying the pseudoephedrine ContacNT.
As well as those arrested, police said they were talking to three other people - one of whom a former prison guard - in relation to the alleged supply of contraband such as tobacco and cellphones to prisoners at Mt Eden prison.
At least 16 cars were seized in this morning's raids, including a 1958 Ford Fairlane and a 1964 Ford Thunderbird, as well as machinery, property and bank accounts worth around $4 million.
Police said the investigation into the gang's activity had been going on for several months.
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