A senior King Cobra gang member is one of six people arrested by police in Christchurch during a major operation targeting a syndicate allegedly responsible for the flow of Class A drugs into the Canterbury region. 

Police said the arrests will be a “devastating blow” for the syndicate and they are analysing assets owned by the six alleged offenders to see if further ill-gotten gains can be seized. 

The Herald can reveal that over the past three days, police executed more than 10 search warrants at properties across Christchurch, including the gang’s Addington pad. 

Police have arrested six people, including a senior King Cobras gang member, and seized cash and methamphetamine during an operation targeting the flow of Class A drugs into Canterbury. Photo / NZ Police 

Officers uncovered at least a kilogram of methamphetamine and bricks of cash that are believed to total more than $100,000. 

The arrests are part of Operation Shelby, which has been orchestrated by the police National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and supported by specialist groups and staff across Canterbury. 

A 34-year-old Christchurch man has been charged with participation in an organised criminal group, and engaging in a money laundering transaction. 

Some of the bags of meth seized by police during Operation Shelby. Photo / NZ Police 

A 60-year-old Christchurch man has been charged with participation in an organised criminal group, engaging in a money laundering transaction, and two counts of conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug. 

A 29-year-old Christchurch man has been charged with participation in an organised criminal group. 

The trio are due to appear in the Christchurch District Court today. 

The other alleged offenders include a 42-year-old Christchurch man who has been charged with engaging in a money laundering transaction, and a 47-year-old Lower Hutt woman who has been charged with possession for supply. 

A 41-year-old Upper Hutt man has also been charged with participation in an organised criminal group. 

They are due to appear in court later in May and June. 

NOCG acting crime manager Detective Inspector Rebecca Cotton said Operation Shelby was a “months-long” effort that started in 2025 and was “designed to target a syndicate” police suspected were a “significant driver of drugs” into Canterbury. 

Some of the cash police found during this week's operation. Photo / NZ Police 

She said the Lower Hutt woman was arrested on April 22 after allegedly flying into Christchurch with a kilo of methamphetamine. 

At the same time, the Upper Hutt man was arrested in the airport carpark. Cotton said he was found with $104,000 in cash. 

“Those arrested this week now face a range of charges, including participating in an organised criminal group, which carries a maximum 10-year prison term, and conspiracy to supply methamphetamine, which is punishable by life imprisonment,” she said. 

“The arrests would put a significant dent in the syndicate’s operations in Christchurch. 

“The alleged offending has been carefully orchestrated and structured in a way to avoid raising suspicion and to protect the hierarchy. 

“Among those arrested is a senior gang figure who attempted to use counter-surveillance methods to avoid police and direct contact with the people allegedly running the drugs.” 

Detective Inspector Rebecca Cotton says Operation Shelby has been a “months-long” effort and started in 2025 . Photo / Melissa Nightingale 

Cotton said the police operation was a “devastating blow” for the alleged offenders and their networks. 

“Our goal was to go after an organised criminal group that was flooding the Canterbury market with Class A drugs like meth, the damage from which police deal with every day,” she said. 

“The results of Operation Shelby are a huge win for the community, and we can’t understate how significant this is. 

“It’s a devastating blow for an organised crime syndicate and a very good day for us.” 

Cotton said alleged offenders stood to lose “even more than money and drugs” as the police Asset Recovery Unit looked at what they owned “in forensic detail”. 

Police found at least 1kg of meth in the raids. Photo / NZ Police 

“These people amassed significant assets through their alleged criminal offending, and they’ve gone untouched for several years,” she said. 

“That has come to an end, they will be held accountable. 

“Police will explore every legal avenue available to us, in particular the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.” 

Cotton said as the case is before the court, police are unable to comment further. 

Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz