Gang raided: armed police squad storm Filthy Few HQ

Stunned witnesses looked on as explosions rang out during an armed raid on a Tauranga gang base yesterday.
Witnesses said Armed Offenders Squad members piled out of a silver 1st Choice Rentals truck and a "dummy" courier van with the windows covered in paper and stormed the Filthy Few headquarters on Birch Ave, Judea, about 9.30am.
"The first thing we saw was someone in black with what looked like a machine gun," said Plumbing World retail manager Jacquie Gail.
She said a squad member clambered over a spiked wooden fence, shortly before a round of loud bangs rang through the busy industrial area and smoke and debris came flying from the side of the building.
About 50 police were involved in the raid, Tauranga Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said. Police spent about seven hours searching the multi-roomed building, along with staff from the New Zealand Customs service and at least one sniffer dog.
Panelbeater Kyle Burke was backing a truck at the neighbouring business when he saw the small silver truck pull up outside the property. The doors swung open and 15 or 20 armed police rushed out on to the street.
He then heard "heaps" of explosives or something going off.
"A cop car came and pulled in the middle and blocked the road off," he said.
Mr Burke said he and his workmates went to the roadside to see what was going on but were ordered back inside by police.
"I've never seen so many police," said Ms Gail who, along with her colleagues, could see everything as it happened.
Ms Gail said the gang members generally kept to themselves.
"We often have them come over here and get plumbing supplies," she said.
Tauranga Plumbing manager Mark Hartstone has worked at the shop near the gang building for the past 15 years.
He said the members were "actually pretty good neighbours".
"We hardly know that they're there really," he said.

Just before 10am police wearing stab-proof vests arrived, congregating on the footpath outside. By about 10.20am senior police, including area commander Inspector Mike Clement arrived and the group was signalled to enter the property to conduct the search, which took about seven hours.
Three members or associates of Filthy Few face drug charges following the raid.
A 26-year-old unemployed man has been charged with possession of methamphetamine and a 48-year-old landscape gardener with possession of cannabis. Both men live at the address and are due to appear in Tauranga District Court next week.
A 49-year-old tyre merchant was charged with possession of methamphetamine. He is also due to appear in Tauranga District Court next week.
Tauranga Fire Brigade was also called to the building about 9.50am to turn off the fire alarm which started sounding shortly after the armed offenders squad forced their way inside.

Mr Brazier described the search as part of ongoing investigation into organised crime in the Western Bay.
He said the gang headquarters was last searched by police in aMrch 2007 and was searched yesterday as result of information received about alleged drug dealing activities by the gang.

Birch Rd remained blocked to traffic for about 20 minutes.