Drug-related arrests after armed police search in Tauranga

Armed police standing guard at a Waimapu Pa Rd, Poike, property during a search today. Photo / Sandra Conchie

Police have arrested two people and charged them with dealing synthetic cannabis and money laundering after an armed police search in Poike.

A team of police, including members of the Armed Offenders Squad, swooped on a Waimapu Pa Rd property about 6.30am on Wednesday to execute a search warrant.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Alan Kingsbury told the Bay of Plenty Times that as a result of the search, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman had been arrested and charged with drug-dealing offences.

The man and the woman were jointly charged with supplying psychoactive substances, possession of the drugs for supply and money laundering offences, he said.

The two people will appear in the Tauranga District Court on Friday.

In a separate written statement, police said between 8kg and 9kg of synthetic drugs found at the address had been seized, along with about $40,000 in cash and a car worth about $20,000.

The latest arrests related to an ongoing investigation by the Tauranga-based members of the National Organised Crime Group called Operation Fauna.

The operation targeted the manufacture and sale of synthetic drugs within communities, with the aim of preventing the "immense social harm" caused by the drugs, a police spokesperson said.

Kingsbury said police inquiries were continuing and he encouraged anyone with information relevant to the investigation to come forward.

People could phone or visit their local police station, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.