Pair arrested in drug raid

Cash seized during a police drug raid in Maunu.

A Whangarei man and his partner were arrested in another Northland police drug raid.

Police executed a warrant at a Silverstream Rd, Maunu, house on Tuesday and seized cash understood to be tens of thousands of dollars, cannabis tinnies, ounce bags of cannabis and a few cannabis plants in the backyard.

Arrested were John Wilfred Poukerehung Cornell, 61, and his partner, Cynthia Renata, 53, who both face joint charges of cultivating cannabis, possession of cannabis plants, selling cannabis, possession of cannabis seeds and possession of eight rounds of .22 calibre ammunition.

They appeared in the Whangarei District Court yesterday and will re-appear on February 2 next year. Cornell was remanded in custody while Renata was granted bail. No pleas were taken.

Whangarei police Constable Geoff Bigwood said the drug raid was not related to Operation Atlas, which targeted the Head Hunters gang, although Tuesday's raid targeted alleged drug dealers.

Last week, methamphetamine with a street value of $400,000, $20,000 cash and stolen gold jewellery that had been melted down were seized during Northland drug raids targeting the Head Hunters gang. A team of 60 police raided five properties across Northland and arrested 11 people. The arrests came as officers terminated Operation Atlas, a police investigation into the criminal activities of the Head Hunters gang, including the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine in the Northland area.

Police are still hunting for 47-year-old Tony Britton who has a warrant out for his arrest in relation to manufacturing methamphetamine as part of Operation Atlas. An extensive search failed to find him in bush at a rural property 30km north-east of Whangarei last Friday.

Information on drug dealings can be passed anonymously on to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.