Police raid leads to eight arrests

A police operation this week led to a number of drugs and firearms related arrests.

Eight Hawke's Bay people are facing drugs charges after a police operation targeted known drug offenders in Napier and Hastings.

Police said nine properties in Hastings South, Flaxmere, Maraenui and Pirimai were searched on Tuesday with the armed offenders squad used during a number of warrants due to the possibility the occupants could be armed.

Detective Sergeant Mark Moorhouse said the operation was part of an ongoing focus on drug offenders in Hawke's Bay.

"Police are continually monitoring the activities of people involved in the local drug trade and Tuesday's arrests should serve as a warning to them that we will not sit back and let their offending continue," Mr Moorhouse said.

"It sends a message to them. They need to watch out for us, we may be coming back tomorrow, we may be coming back today, they need to look over their shoulders.

"We are committed to bringing these people to account and to stem the flow of illegal drugs in the community."

The eight arrested people are due to appear in the Napier and Hastings District Courts this week and next week.

Three people are facing charges of possessing methamphetamine and others are charged with possessing cannabis for supply and selling and cultivating cannabis.

One man has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of firearms.

"There is drug activity you know about and drug activity you don't know about and we are hoping this operation has stopped some drugs getting into the hands of young people."

He said police had recovered a stolen vehicle and taken illegal firearms, including shotguns and .22 calibre rifles, "off the street".

He said information used in the operation was received by police both overtly and covertly. The arrests follow September's sentencing of Napier "drug boss" Keith Lawson, 50, who was jailed for eight years, after police uncovered the most prolific methamphetamine trade seen in Hawke's Bay during Operation Spark last year.

Police previously said surveillance indicated Lawson was involved in at least 500 "transactions" in the major drug-dealing network, worth millions of dollars, which was believed to have moved almost a kilogram of methamphetamine from Auckland to Hawke's Bay.

Police continue to urge the public to report any suspicious behaviour that could be related to drugs and any activity that appears to be out of the ordinary should be reported straight away.

"Police rely heavily on information from the public about drug dealers and offenders, so we are always keen to hear about any activity in a neighbourhood that raises people's suspicions. What may appear to be insignificant could be important to us."

Mr Moorhouse said anyone with information about drug activity should ring Hawke's Bay Police on 06 831 0700 or those who wished to remain anonymous could use Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.