Drugs arrest after truck pulled over

Police investigate the contents of a container truck on State Highway 2, near Hawke's Bay Airport in Napier yesterday. Photo / Paul Taylor

A routine police check of a truck on State Highway 2 yesterday became a full-on swoop by detectives, with the truck's driver charged with possession of methamphetamine.

The freight truck was carrying two containers and heading toward Napier when it was pulled over about 7am by unit officers from the police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit, who were carrying out checks at a layby near Hawke's Bay Airport.

A police spokeswoman said that, while police spoke to the truck's driver, a small point bag fell out of the driver's door when it was opened.

The driver got out of the truck and walked to a roadside area of bush, where he was alleged to have been seen throwing something into some bushes.

Police CIB staff were called to the scene and the man and the truck cab were searched. A small amount of methamphetamine was found in the bushes, police say.

Police had to use protective gear when searching the two containers on the truck, as it was carrying a chemical load.

When Hawke's Bay Today was at the scene about six police vehicles, including what appeared to be a specialist search wagon equipped with item recovery bags, containers and protective armwear, were assembled at the truck, along with about a dozen staff.

The driver of the truck was driven off by two detectives.

Police had cleared the scene by 11.30am. The police spokeswoman said a 55-year-old Napier man was charged with possession of methamphetamine for personal use. He was released on bail and is due to appear in the Napier District Court next Wednesday.