Organised-crime swoop nets weapons, cash, drugs: Police

Detective Inspector Mark Loper Photo/File

Raids in Rotorua this week netted firearms and $20,000 in cash, as well as uncovering a clandestine P lab in a storage unit, police say.

Bay of Plenty police acting crime manager Detective Inspector Mark Loper yesterday revealed the full extent of Thursday's bust, which targeted organised crime.

He said of the 18 search warrants there were 17 residential addresses and one storage unit searched.

Five people were arrested "with others to come", Mr Loper said.

A clandestine lab was found in the storage unit, he said. Police had also recovered four firearms in the raids.

These were two sawn-off shotguns, a pump-action shotgun and a .22 pistol.

They had also recovered two stolen motorbikes, the $20,000 in cash and quantities of cannabis and methamphetamine.

"These were organised criminal enterprises," Mr Loper alleged.

"The team has been working on this for a couple of months and we're certainly pleased with the outcome."

The properties searched were in Mangakakahi, Fordlands and Western Heights.

The raids started at 7am and went on into the evening. The operation involved 50 staff from across the Bay of Plenty police district including the police dog section and armed offenders squad at some of the searches.

All arrests were made without incident.