Six arrests made after property raids

Police arrested six people following raids across the Bay, yesterday.

Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton told the Bay of Plenty Times that the searches were in relation to commercial burglaries, targeting thefts of cigarettes and other items, as well as drug-related offending.

Mr Paxton said early yesterday that 12 search warrants were executed across the Bay of Plenty, 10 in Rotorua, and two in the Western Bay of Plenty.

The raids in the Western Bay of Plenty were at a property in Kaitemako Rd in Welcome Bay, and the other in Merivale.

Several police vehicles were seen travelling up Kaitemako Rd about 7.30am.

At least a dozen police, including detectives, were seen involved in the search at the Kaitemako Rd property.

Four patrol cars and six unmarked police vehicles were parked on the property during the search, which included several out-buildings and vegetation, including underneath planter tubs inside two sheds. Officers also used a pole to dig underground near the fence line, and hopped the fence to search the neighbouring bush.

Mr Paxton said inquiries were continuing. A police spokesperson told the Bay of Plenty Times there were a number of arrests as a result of the Rotorua search warrants and property was recovered, but exact details were not known last night.

- Two women and four men were due to appear in Tauranga District Court yesterday facing drug-related charges.