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Three people have been arrested and drugs, weapons and cash seized following police raids in Hawke’s Bay.

A six-month police operation codenamed Operation Tukutuki began in response to high levels of methamphetamine being detected in wastewater testing.

Detective Inspector James Keene said wastewater testing had shown methamphetamine has an increasingly strong grip on parts of Hawke’s Bay.

“Our goal is to crush it.”

Five search warrants were executed across Central Hawke’s Bay and Hastings yesterday.

Police seized an amount of methamphetamine, cash, a 3D printed firearm and stolen property, resulting in three arrests.

“Yesterday we targeted a small number of offenders, all in or connected to local gangs, who we believe are pumping drugs into the area,” Keene said.

“Methamphetamine is a massive driver of harm and victimisation, and the gangs who are peddling it aren’t worried about the damage they’re inflicting.

“Operation Tukutuki had been in the works for six months and specialist teams had spent hours upon hours working to track the network of offenders funnelling meth into the community.”

Keene said police went in hard and early because the element of surprise was vital, especially when organised crime networks were involved.

“Several warrants were executed simultaneously to reduce the people in this network tipping others off,” he said.

“We’re continuing to investigate, and we expect to lay more charges against the people who have been arrested. We also cannot rule out further arrests.”

Three men aged 39, 42, and 57, two of whom are patched Mongrel Mob members and the other a Mongrel Mob associate, appeared in the Hastings District Court yesterday.

They faced multiple charges of possession for supply, supply, and conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and cannabis.

The 39-year-old man was remanded in custody to reappear in the Waipukurau District Court on January 12.

The 42-year-old man was remanded in custody to reappear in the Hastings District Court on December 19, while the 57-year-old man was remanded in custody to reappear in Hastings on December 23.