Police have made a number of arrests in Waikato after uncovering firearms, cash and drugs as officers carried out lockdown compliance vehicle stops.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Field crime manager in Waikato Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said as police enforced travel restrictions on Friday they arrested a driver in the early early hours of the morning for driving while disqualified.
Afterwards the man was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine, point bags, cash and drug paraphernalia.
This 38-year-old man appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Friday and was charged with driving while disqualified, possession of methamphetamine for supply, refusing details and giving false details. He was remanded in custody.
Staff then responded to reports of erratic driving on Cobham Drive Hamilton at around 5am. Police stopped a motorcyclist, who allegedly became aggressive and resisted arrest.
He was found to have a large amount of cash together with a quantity of methamphetamine and LSD on him, police said.
This 33-year- year-old man appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Friday and was remanded in custody on a number of offences including possession of methamphetamine for supply, driving whilst suspended and noncompliance with Covid-19 Public Health Response Act order.
Police said both men were linked to local gangs.
Later that day, officers were called to reports of a trespass in the area of Tahuna where a man under the influence of drugs drove onto private property and refused to leave.
Police arrived and located a 30-year-old man in breach of his bail conditions. While moving the vehicle off the property, police located a loaded shot gun containing three rounds of ammunition.
"A search pursuant to The Search and Surveillance Act 2012 was invoked and a further 16 rounds were found and seized and a clandestine mobile methamphetamine lab was located in the boot of the vehicle," Smith said.
The man appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Friday also on a variety of drugs and firearms charges. He was also charged with noncompliance with a Covid-19 Public Health Response Act order.
"Police are committed to stamping out the distribution of methamphetamine and the detrimental impact it has on all our communities," Smith added.
"The actions of all of these people are incredibly disappointing and New Zealand Police have little tolerance for those breaching the alert level 4 restrictions."