A shotgun found hidden under a bed, a rifle which had been kept in a car, $2000 cash and a quantity of P provided stark evidence of the "sinister" drug and criminal activities happening in Hawke's Bay, police said after a property search yesterday.
The find emerged as Napier police Law Enforcement Team (LET) officers went to an address in Tamatea as part of a week-long operation, targeting mainly burglars and receivers, dubbed Operation Hitman.
Detective Sergeant Heath Jones said it was the most graphic evidence of what was happening in the drug and criminal underworld across the region.
"This is sinister stuff," he said as enquiries began to find the rightful owners of the shotgun and the rifle which officers believe to be stolen. The shotgun is an Escort Magnum and the .222 rifle is a BSA lever-action.
A 33-year-old man who had been at the property was "assisting" police with their enquiries but no charges had been laid.
The discovery of the guns, cash and drugs was the most significant during the operation which clearly linked the drug trade to the burglary trade. Officers had served nine search warrants across the city since Monday, and as well as recovering stolen electrical items (mainly televisions and laptops) they had uncovered small quantities of drugs at four of the addresses.
A growing number of burglars were stealing to pay for drugs, Mr Jones said.
The winter was traditionally the peak time for burglaries across the region, and this year had been no exception.
Mr Jones said an incident late last week illustrated the brazenness and desperation of thieves.
Two men had stolen so much property from one house that they filled their car - so unloaded some of it at the second house they called at to burgle. When they returned they were met by police.
"By that stage we had got in on the act."
Mr Jones said good work by the public, in spotting suspicious behaviour and getting registration numbers, helped nab the pair.
LEAD STORY: Bay police seize cash, guns and P
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