Children found in BOP tinnie houses

File photo / Northern Advocate

Children have been found at Opotiki tinnie houses during police drugs raids.

Raids over the past few days targeted people selling drugs from homes in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

The raids followed public concern about neighbourhood crime and school-aged children being sold drugs, Opotiki police Sergeant Michael Mackenzie said.

"This operation has demonstrated that the Opotiki community have had enough and they are taking action to do something about it. They are to be commended for coming forward."

It was particularly disappointing and disturbing to find children at a number of the tinnie houses involved in drug dealing, he said.

The children have been referred to Child, Youth and Family.

One tinnie house operator was dealing drugs while on bail for the same type of offending.

He was to appear in the Whakatane District Court today.

Two other men were to appear in Opotiki District Court next week on drug-related charges.

- NZPA