Armed police swooped on eight properties across the region this week.FILEFour unemployed Te Puke residents arrested in armed police drug raids this week appeared in court yesterday, charged with a raft of cannabis offences.
Police swooped on eight properties across the region earlier this week, as part of a major operation targeting organised crime.
Seven arrests were made for the alleged sale, possession and cultivation of cannabis, and alleged possession of methamphetamine.
Police opposed bail in relation to two of the four defendants when they appeared before Judge Denise Clark in Tauranga District Court yesterday.
Fabian Te Amo, 20, faced three charges each of possession of cannabis for supply and selling cannabis to an undercover police officer.
The offences allegedly occurred between May 27 and September 22.
Wiremu Whare, 26, was charged with possession of cannabis for supply, after an undercover officer visited a Te Puke address on September 21 to buy cannabis as part of the undercover operation.
But the judge said she was prepared to grant bail to all four defendants under strict conditions, including a nightly curfew and police bail checks.
Hemiona Ririnui, 27, is charged with possession of cannabis for supply and two charges of selling cannabis to an undercover police officer. Those offences were allegedly committed between May 27 and July 21.
Nikki Whare, 25, faces two charges of possession of cannabis for supply, three of selling cannabis to an undercover police officer, and a charge of offering to sell the drug.
The offences allegedly occurred between June 8 and September 21.
All four defendants were remanded on bail without pleas, and will be back in court on October 14.
In a separate incident, Stacey Russell, 34, of Matapihi appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday facing cannabis charges, after police executed a search warrant at a Pyes Pa address on Monday.
Russell faced one charge of possession of cannabis for supply, two charges of possession of methamphetamine, and three charges of possession of P-related utensils.
She was remanded on bail without pleas, and is due to reappear in court on October 14.
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