Police have arrested eight people in Kaitaia and seized a quantity of methamphetamine and cash.
File photo. Photo: 123rf.com
The arrests followed an incident in Allen Bell Drive shortly before 8am yesterday.
Police came across an altercation between a group of people armed with weapons in a vehicle and the occupants of a nearby premises.
A firearm was found in the vehicle and four people were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of an offensive weapon.
Two of the people arrested were Black Power gang members.
Following further enquiries by the Far North Precision Targeting Team, several search warrants were executed on Saturday afternoon.
A stolen vehicle, 117 grams of methamphetamine, $88,000 in cash and other evidence of alleged significant drug distribution were located.
A further four people were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply.
"Whilst removing the 117 grams of methamphetamine from Kaitaia is great for our community, the large amount of cash seized shows the harm that has already been caused," said Northland District Organised Crime co-ordinator Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry.
"It's disheartening knowing such a large amount of money has allegedly been spent on purchasing drugs in a community that is facing a number of social challenges and has a number of people dealing with drug addiction."
All those arrested were due to appear in the Kaitaia District Court today.