Papamoa man Ngatote Alan Edwards admits multiple drugs and firearm charges

Ngatote Alan Edwards, 25, pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday. Photo / File

A Papamoa man caught dealing P and cannabis also had a cut-down sawn-off shotgun and 70 rounds of ammunition in his bedroom, a Tauranga court heard.

Ngatote Alan Edwards, 25, pleaded guilty to eight drug and firearm charges when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday via audio-visual link from prison.

That is, two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, one charge each of offering to supply methamphetamine and cannabis, conspiring to deal P and supply cannabis, and supplying both drugs.

Four of the drugs charges are representative counts which means the offences were committed more than once between January 15 and February 11, 2017.

The summary of facts revealed that on February 15 last year when police armed with a drugs search warrant visited Edwards' Simpson Rd, Papamoa address.

During the search, police found a cut-down pump action shotgun hidden under a chest of drawers in Edwards' bedroom and near it were 20 rounds of shotgun ammunition.

Also found in the bedroom was another 50 rounds of .22 ammunition.

Edwards does not hold a firearms licence.

On March 6, 2017, police obtained a production order to search Edward's cellphone and text communications showed evidence of him dealing methamphetamine and cannabis.

That included offering to supply P and conspiring to supply the 5.5 grams of methamphetamine with a total street value of about $3150.

Edwards also conspired with an unknown person to supply 538 grams of cannabis with an estimated value of about $5700.

When earlier confronted by police Edwards said the shotgun and ammunition were for his protection.

Judge Paul Mabey, QC, remanded Edwards in custody pending sentencing on April 13,

The judge told Edwards he was making no promises what the sentence would be, but called for a home detention report.