Two men have been arrested after allegedly “scrambling” to hide guns, drugs and cash in the engine bay of a car in rural Auckland.
Police – including the armed offenders squad – yesterday carried out a search at a property in Patumāhoe following a report of a person acting in a threatening manner.
Officers arrivede to find a man in the garage area attempting to hide items, Inspector Matt Hoyes said.
“This person was quickly taken into custody without incident.”
A second man was then seen “also scrambling to hide a number of items”.
“He failed to follow police instructions and was also arrested after attempting to assault an officer.”
Hoyes said officers searched the property and found a pistol inside a bag, which had been hidden in the engine bay of a vehicle.
“Also in this bag was s substantial amount of cannabis, LSD and methamphetamine.”
A further search of the property uncovered a sawn-off shotgun and a revolver-type pistol in a bedroom along with some ammunition.
A rifle and 61 rounds of ammunition were also found in a campervan on the property.
Hoyes said three of the four firearms found by police were loaded.
“I am really proud of the work our teams did investigating this offending – being able to hold these offenders to account shows our commitment to stamping out this type of criminal activity in our community.
“Recovering the drugs and dangerous weapons that were present, alongside evidence of dealing, is a great result for everyone.”
A 42-year-old man would appear in Pukekohe District Court today charged with five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm/ammunition, possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of LSD for supply, possession of drug utensils, possession of cannabis for supply, assaulting police and resisting police.
A 27-year-old man would also appear in the same court today charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and threatening to kill.