Tēnā koe

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.

Your reference number is IR-01-26-11044.

You can expect a response to your request on or before 29 April 2026 unless an extension is needed.

Ngā mihi, Michelle
Advisor - Police National Headquarters

-----Original Message-----
From: S.I <[FOI #34269 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 12:23 PM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Operation Chartreuse resources, costs & outcomes

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.

Dear New Zealand Police,

In January 2023, Police commenced an investigation, Operation Chartreuse, focused on the actions of a syndicate involved in the importation of Class A and Class B controlled drugs and precursor substances, the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, and money laundering connected with these activities. Evidence was gathered through the interception of private communications, covert cameras and audio devices, surveillance and other means. The investigation identified a number of people involved in the syndicate who faced criminal charges and civil forfeiture orders under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.

Please provide: :
1. A breakdown of work hours spent by police over the course of this operation, including any time spent during the prosecution of the offenders i.e time spent in court, case management etc.
2. The total dollar amount of police salary and overtime costs associated to those work hours 3. The total dollar amount of the entire operation including any additional costs incurred for surveillance, investigations, translators, accountants etc.
4. A breakdown of vehicles, property, cash, jewellery/gold and any other assets seized & restrained under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 5. A breakdown of what was successfully forfeited under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, the dollar amount realised, and what items (if any) were returned to the offenders to date.

I am a New Zealand citizen residing in Auckland my entire life so I am more than entitled to request this information.

Regards

S.I

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34269 email]

Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================

WARNING

The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately

hide quoted sections

Kia ora

I refer to your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.

I advise that Police have transferred questions 4 and 5 of your request to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as the information to which your request relates is not held by Police but is held by that agency. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer your request.

The parts transferred are as follows:

4. A breakdown of vehicles, property, cash, jewellery/gold and any other assets seized & restrained under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.
5. A breakdown of what was successfully forfeited under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, the dollar amount realised, and what items (if any) were returned to the offenders to date.

Police will answer the remainder of the request.

You will hear further shortly from that agency concerning your request.

Kind regards, Michelle
Advisor – Police National Headquarters

-----Original Message-----
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 12:38 PM
To: S.I <[FOI #34269 email]>
Subject: OIA acknowledgement IR-01-26-11044 - Operation Chartreuse resources, costs & outcomes

Tçnâ koe

I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request below.

Your reference number is IR-01-26-11044.

You can expect a response to your request on or before 29 April 2026 unless an extension is needed.

Ngâ mihi, Michelle
Advisor - Police National Headquarters

-----Original Message-----
From: S.I <[FOI #34269 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 12:23 PM
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Operation Chartreuse resources, costs & outcomes

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.

Dear New Zealand Police,

In January 2023, Police commenced an investigation, Operation Chartreuse, focused on the actions of a syndicate involved in the importation of Class A and Class B controlled drugs and precursor substances, the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, and money laundering connected with these activities. Evidence was gathered through the interception of private communications, covert cameras and audio devices, surveillance and other means. The investigation identified a number of people involved in the syndicate who faced criminal charges and civil forfeiture orders under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.

Please provide: :
1. A breakdown of work hours spent by police over the course of this operation, including any time spent during the prosecution of the offenders i.e time spent in court, case management etc.
2. The total dollar amount of police salary and overtime costs associated to those work hours
3. The total dollar amount of the entire operation including any additional costs incurred for surveillance, investigations, translators, accountants etc.
4. A breakdown of vehicles, property, cash, jewellery/gold and any other assets seized & restrained under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009
5. A breakdown of what was successfully forfeited under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, the dollar amount realised, and what items (if any) were returned to the offenders to date.

I am a New Zealand citizen residing in Auckland my entire life so I am more than entitled to request this information.

Regards

S.I

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34269 email]

Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================

WARNING

The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately

hide quoted sections

Kia ora S.I

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your request of 27 March 2026 sent to New Zealand Police
requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the
following:

 

In January 2023, Police commenced an investigation, Operation Chartreuse,
focused on the actions of a syndicate involved in the importation of Class
A and Class B controlled drugs and precursor substances, the supply of
Class A and Class B drugs, and money laundering connected with these
activities. Evidence was gathered through the interception of private
communications, covert cameras and audio devices, surveillance and other
means. The investigation identified a number of people involved in the
syndicate who faced criminal charges and civil forfeiture orders under the
Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.

 

Please provide: :

1. A breakdown of work hours spent by police over the course of this
operation, including any time spent during the prosecution of the
offenders i.e time spent in court, case management etc.

2. The total dollar amount of police salary and overtime costs associated
to those work hours 3. The total dollar amount of the entire operation
including any additional costs incurred for surveillance, investigations,
translators, accountants etc.

4. A breakdown of vehicles, property, cash, jewellery/gold and any other
assets seized & restrained under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act
2009                                       5. A breakdown of what was
successfully forfeited under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009,
the dollar amount realised, and what items (if any) were returned to the
offenders to date.

 

I am a New Zealand citizen residing in Auckland my entire life, so I am
more than entitled to request this information.

 

Part 4 and 5 as highlighted above have been transferred to the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment from New Zealand Police on 30 March
2026. 

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 30/04/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request, feel free to contact us via email to
[1][email address].

 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 | PO Box 1473 Wellington 6140

 

 

Ngā mihi

 

Charmaine McAra

Senior Advisor - Ministerial Services Business Advisory

Communications and Government Services| Strategy and Assurance Group

Email: [2][email address]

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]

Kia ora S.I,

 

Please find attached the response to part 4 and 5 of your request dated 27
March 2026 which has been transferred to the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment.

Kind regards,

 

 

Anthony Pullan

REGIONAL MANAGER

Insolvency and Trustee Service

Ministry of Business, Innovation &  Employment

 

[1][email address] | Freephone: 0508 467 658
Save time, do it online | [2]www.insolvency.govt.nz

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.insolvency.govt.nz/

Tēnā koe

 

Please find attached the response relating to your Official Information
Act request, received by Police on 27 March 2026.

 

Ngā mihi

Lisa

Ministerial Services

Police National Headquarters

 

===============================================================

WARNING

The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this
message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If
you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the
sender immediately