Taupō police say they are making good progress with the homicide investigation into the death of Ryan Woodford.
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Bay of Plenty field crime manager Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow said, with help from the community, he now had a good picture of events leading up to Woodford's death.
Woodford, 30, died at the Adelphi Motel in Taupō on 6 March.
"We know there are a number of people in the community who know what happened to Mr Woodford and who are involved in his death, or are aware of related activity before or after his death, and we are asking them to come forward."
In the past two days search warrants were executed in Taupō, Mangakino and Hamilton and a male has been arrested on drugs and firearms charges, Pilbrow said. And further arrests are likely.
He said police had recovered vehicles that were involved in the offending.
Those who know what happened to Woodford are urged to contact police to avoid serious charges themselves.
"Anyone who withholds information from police in relation to the ongoing investigation or is found to be assisting the primary persons responsible could end up facing serious charges themselves, so we would urge people to make contact with police at the earliest opportunity and tell us what you know."