Armed police operation stops traffic

State Highway 36 was closed during an armed offenders squad call-out to Pyes Pa yesterday. Photo / Ruth Keber

State Highway 36 was closed yesterday during an armed offenders squad call-out which resulted in a man being arrested for allegedly possessing a sawn-off shotgun and P.

The highway, south of Pyes Pa School, was closed for about half an hour while a search warrant was being executed.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner of Tauranga Police said a 57-year-old man, who was unemployed and living in the Western Bay of Plenty area, was arrested at a rural Pyes Pa address. He was charged with possessing methamphetamine for supply and possessing a sawn-off shotgun.

"The warrant was executed with the use of the armed offenders squad and other police sections."

Traffic backed up quickly after police closed SH36.

Mr Turner said the highway was closed during the execution of the search warrant to ensure the safety of the public.

Traffic backed up for kilometres in both directions during the closure.

At least six police cars and a police dog unit were seen with other emergency units stationed along the road outside Pyes Pa School.

The arrest follows the seizure of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine two weeks ago in a police operation throughout the region which included the busting of three clandestine labs.

Those raids involved 80 police staff, including assistance from Bay of Plenty and Waikato armed offender squads and a specialist search dog from Wellington and 12 arrests were made over two-and-a-half months.

A 57-year-old man was to appear in the Tauranga District Court today.

If anyone has information about drugs cultivation, manufacture or supply, they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.