UPDATE: Auckland company manager charged over 1080 threat

A 60-year old Auckland businessman has been remanded in custody for two weeks after appearing in the Counties Manukau District Court on blackmail charges in connection with a threat to poison infant formula with 1080.

The company manager was charged this morning.

Judge David McNaughton granted the man name suppression until April 16, 2016, along with suppression of the names of the companies he's associated with.

No plea was entered. He will reappear in court on October 28.

The police announced the arrest earlier today after executing five search warrants in Auckland and the Rangitikei district this morning.

 “Today’s arrest is the result of dedicated investigative work over many months. The Operation Concord team has demonstrated a meticulous approach in managing large volumes of information and applying a range of forensic techniques in gathering evidence” police commissioner Mike Bush told a media conference earlier today.   

He said this investigation is one of the biggest undertaken by police in recent times.

Mr Bush said today's arrest follows a long and complex 11-month investigation that has cost more than $3 million and involved a 35-strong investigation team.

The letters threatened to poison retail supplies of infant formula destined for the Chinese market and one other market with 1080 unless the government stopped using it for forest pest control, which it refused to do.

The charges say the East Auckland man made the threats for financial gain.

Lawyer Hugh Leabourn said his client consented to remand because of the police investigation but invited them to wrap that up as quickly as possible in the next two weeks before the case comes back to court.

The commissioner said the Operation Concord team had used a range of forensic techniques in gathering evidence, some that were innovative and could be used in future investigations.

It's believed the arrested man was acting alone and no further arrests are expected although Mr Bush said he couldn't comment on his motivations for the threatened blackmail.

More than 2600 people were considered by the investigation team over the course of the inquiry.

Primary Industries Ministry chief executive Martyn Dunne said the safety of consumers was paramount during the investigation.

Mr Dunne said 150,000 batches of a range of infant formula products had been tested under a new regime introduced after the threat. The new tests will remain as part of manufacturers' safety regime.

There had been no drop-off in trade because New Zealand had reassured international trading partners that New Zealand products and systems were safe, he said.

Timeline of events:

November 27, 2014

- Fonterra and Federated Farmers receive letters, containing samples of formula contaminated with 1080.

- Police launch Operation Concord in Auckland, involving up to 36 staff. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other agencies are brought in to help with the operation.

January 15

- Testing of product samples begins.

February 10

- First meetings held with affected infant and other formula manufacturers.

February 18

- Meeting held with New Zealand supermarket chains.

March 10:

- NZX halts trading on three listed dairy companies and all dairy futures.

- Police announce publicly that a threat has been made to contaminate infant formula with 1080.

March 11:

- John Key says the threat was made public because information had already reached members of the media.

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