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Nine people have been arrested and $ 6 million in assets seized by police in one of the largest money laundering operations seen in Auckland.
More than $ 120 million in transactions may have been laundered, police said.
The defendants were allegedly involved in a sophisticated organized crime group, Detective Superintendent Iain Chapman said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Police carried out 23 search warrants in the region on Wednesday morning after an investigation by the Financial Crime Group.
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Eight luxury cars were seized, including a Bentley, two Porsche, two Range Rovers, a Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce and a BMW.
NZ POLICE / Supplied
More than $ 100,000 in cash was found at one of the properties.
The vehicles were used in illegal activities, involving money laundering totaling more than $ 100 million, Chapman said.
Earlier Wednesday, police had been searching for a white 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith worth a quarter of a million dollars, Chapman said, but it was later found in a car park in downtown Auckland.
Eight properties in central Auckland, Albany and Glenfield have also been restricted.
The total value of the seized items, including vehicles, property and bank account funds, was $ 6 million, Chapman said.
NZ POLICE
Police carried out search warrants at 23 locations in Auckland on Wednesday morning and seized several luxury cars.
“The sums of money involved are staggering. Our research has found that this group of people has handled transactions in excess of $ 120 million. “
Although it was possible that some money had been obtained legally, the police believed that a significant amount was proceeds of crime.
The investigation was called Operation Martínez.
Eight men and one woman, aged between 29 and 48, are due to appear in Auckland District Court on Thursday.
NEW ZEALAND POLICE / Supplied
A Rolls-Royce that police say was used in one of Auckland’s largest money laundering operations. The car disappeared Wednesday morning but was later found in a car park in central Auckland.
One person faces charges related to the supply of methamphetamine.
Chapman declined to reveal exactly how police learned of the money laundering scheme, but said the police worked closely with banks and other agencies.
“In New Zealand, we are very well prepared as a country to detect this type of activity.”
He said none of those arrested had known ties to any “501 gang,” such as the Comancheros.
Chapman said those arrested used what appeared to be a legitimate financial provider with offices in and around Auckland to launder money.
The police would carefully study the books of those businesses over the next few weeks or months.
Money laundering was a “critical component” of organized crime, Chapman said.
“Disrupting and dismantling operations like this will have an impact on organized crime within New Zealand.”
