A further arrest has been made in Porirua as police crack down on the sale and supply of synthetic drugs.
A 34-year-old man was arrested today following the execution of a search warrant at a Porirua address where around 60 bags of synthetic drugs were found.
The bags were gram-size and had been prepared for sale.
The man will appear in Porirua District Court tomorrow, charged with possession of psychoactive substance for sale and selling psychoactive substances.
A second man at the address has also been charged with possession of cannabis.
Detective senior sergeant Ian Martin, area manager investigations, said today's arrest came after police and ambulance were called to a Cannons Creek address this afternoon, where a man had collapsed unconscious on the street after using synthetic drugs.
"These drugs are causing a huge amount of harm in our community," he said.
"Police are absolutely committed to eradicating these drugs from our community and we will continue taking a hard line in terms of enforcement.
"However we also recognise that education is important and we are working closely with other agencies to ensure that all members of the community are well informed about the dangers of taking synthetics."
The use of synthetic drugs in the Porirua and Wellington region has made headlines over the past weeks with a 36-year-old man being killed by the substance in the Hutt Valley on November 9.
At the time of the death a further 11 people had been hospitalised this month in the Wellington area due to synthetic drug use, and there had been 17 incidents linked to synthetic drugs since November 1 in the Kapiti-Mana area alone.
The 26-year-old man was also arrested in Horowhenu on November 14 after a police search uncovered nearly 4kg of material used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs at the man's Manakau address.
Police would like to hear from anyone who has information which could help our ongoing investigations into the sale and supply of synthetic drugs in the Porirua community.
You can do this by contacting Porirua Central police station directly on 04 238 1400 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.