Major drug operation uncovered

Bay of Plenty Police were part of a major operation that uncovered thousands of dollars of equipment and ingredients allegedly used to make methamphetamine, firearms and explosives in shipping containers and caravans.

Armed Offenders Squad officers, the clandestine lab team, the defence bomb disposal squad, CIB and general duties Police officers from Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland were all part of the mix at various times throughout the weekend.

Three arrests were made, thousands of dollars of equipment and ingredients allegedly used to make methamphetamine, two addresses, firearms, explosives and surveillance cameras were all part of the scene that unfolded last weekend after Police executed simultaneous search warrants at Ngaruawahia and Blockhouse Bay properties on Friday afternoon.

Two Auckland men, 37 year old David Griffiths and a 43 year-old, were found at the address in River Rd and were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.

A woman arrested at the Blockhouse Bay Rd property was charged with possession of a Class A drug and possession of Class C drugs for supply.

Griffiths has been remanded in custody to reappear on 30 October 2012 and the 43 year-old has been bailed to his Auckland address. He will appear in Court again on the same date.

More arrests are likely to be made.

Detective Sergeant Nina Pedersen of Avondale CIB said the clan lab team worked throughout the weekend processing the rural Ngaruawahia scene that comprised six shipping containers and three caravans.

"Once the clan lab team had meticulously gone through the property and made it safe, the general scene examination got underway on Sunday afternoon and, among other things, staff located a rifle, subsonic ammunition, flares, grenades and explosives.

"This has been an inter-district operation and I'm very proud of the way all officers have worked together at short notice to shut down what experienced clan lab staff described as a sophisticated commercial-scale laboratory set up to supply large amounts of illegal Class A drugs. Our investigation is ongoing and further arrests are likely."