KEY POINTS:
The armed offenders squad raided two houses in the Hamilton suburb of Fairfield about 7am yesterday, throwing smoke bombs in before taking a number of people away for questioning.
Separate armed offenders teams from Tauranga and Hamilton were deployed, with an additional 25 police staff.
Eight people were
arrested on charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, threatening to kill a police officer, receiving, possession of methamphetamine, possession of utensils for both cannabis and methamphetamine use and possession of precursor material. Two firearms were confiscated, including a semi-automatic shotgun.
The police raids come days after a shooting - in which nobody was injured - in the same neighbourhood last Sunday.
Police confirmed the shooting was connected to the raids yesterday.
It was the latest event in simmering tensions between the homes diagonally opposite one another.
It is understood one of the Tennyson Rd houses stormed by police is linked to a member or relation of the Black Power gang, while the other address is occupied by members of the Bloods gang.
For several hours detectives scoured both properties for evidence. The scene was cordoned off and armed police stood guard at the two homes.
A Black Power jacket was bagged and taken by police from one property.
A man with blood running down his arm sat in the back of an unmarked police car in only his shorts, while a detective sat next to him taking notes.
It is believed the same man punched a hole through the window of the house he was living in on Wednesday night after having an argument with another occupant.
Before being taken in to custody by police he was escorted inside the house to get clothing.
As he left he shouted, "I'm being charged, I'm being charged, don't worry about it," as he crossed the road and was put into a police vehicle.
Further down the street, a boy aged about 10 was seen waving a toy gun, pointing it at a group of younger children across the street.
Senior Sergeant Paul Jermy said three raids took place yesterday relating to the shooting last weekend.
The third raid took place in Rifle Range Rd, in the suburb of Frankton.
Two men had been arrested at that property - one who was wanted on a search warrant, the other for possession of methamphetamine.
During the Fairfield busts, four "supporters" of one gang had been arrested - two for disorderly behaviour and two on existing warrants.
Police said the investigation into the weekend shooting was continuing, although no arrests had been made to date.
Public assistance in locating a 1993 red Nissan Skyline, registration number AGT119, was appealed for, but police warned people not to approach it.
