Four workers arrested for alleged drug conspiracy after burglary at Auckland waste management company and drug disposal site

Four employees have been charged over an alleged methamphetamine conspiracy after a burglary at an Auckland site used to dispose of illegal narcotics.

It is believed that the waste management facility was used to destroy the seized drugs.
during police operations, and that people with inside knowledge of the establishment allegedly stole then sold or attempted to sell the illicit drugs.

A judicial source said some of those involved in an alleged drug ring were initially charged with burglary, after an incident at the establishment in November.

But police have since charged at least one defendant with drug offenses dating back to March 2023.

Waste management company WM New Zealand has confirmed a recent police operation involved four employees based at an Auckland facility.

“We are currently gathering information and are fully cooperating with police throughout their investigation,” the company said today.

“Our facilities are well-protected with background checks on all employees, access control systems and security cameras for 24/7 surveillance,” the company added.

“We have robust protocols and we thoroughly train our staff to keep everyone safe.”

A 30-year-old man from Wesley, near Mount Roskill, central Auckland, appeared in court on May 17.

A police spokesperson said the man had been remanded in custody.

He was charged with drug burglary and conspiracy to sell ecstasy and methamphetamine and faces a maximum prison sentence of 14 years if convicted.

A review hearing in his case is now set for August 23 at the Manukau District Court.

A 59-year-old Favona man has been charged with trafficking ecstasy, conspiracy to sell methamphetamine and burglary for drugs.

He will appear for a review hearing in the case on September 6 in the Manukau District Court and police said he has been remanded in custody.

A hearing is also scheduled for September for a 43-year-old woman who did not face burglary charges but was charged with conspiracy to sell a class A drug and was remanded in custody.

And a 25-year-old man was remanded in custody, also charged with conspiracy to sell drugs, but not burglary. He is also scheduled to appear in court on September 6.

Due to security risks, the locations of drug disposal or destruction sites tend not to be widely disclosed.

Police alleged in court documents that in addition to the four people charged, “unknown persons” were involved in a conspiracy to sell methamphetamine.

Today, police did not respond to questions about drug disposal.

A New Zealand Police policy manual states that police maintain a property register used to record and electronically maintain records of drug exhibits.

In some cases, the drugs were entrusted to the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Research (ESR).

“Controlled drugs that cannot be immediately delivered to the ESR must be stored at the police station in a safe, drug safety cabinet or secure area approved by the district commander for this purpose,” it says the police manual.

“Controlled drugs or prohibited plants not required in court proceedings remain with ESR until court proceedings are finalized,” the manual adds.

The case officer must notify ESR when the case is completed and authorize the drug to be disposed of, the manual states.

ESR has been contacted for comment.

An Auckland Council document on waste management from November last year said there were not many operators in the hazardous waste disposal sector.

“The hazardous waste market includes both liquid and solid waste which, in general, requires further treatment before conventional disposal methods can be used,” the council’s Waste Assessment 2023 report states.

“A range of treatment processes are used before hazardous waste can be safely disposed of. Most disposal is either in landfills or through the commercial waste system.

Online business editor John Weekes has reported on drug trials and tribunals in New Zealand for the Herald and other publishers, and in Australia for News Corp.