24 Jan 2020

Numerous weapons discovered in police searches on East Coast

From Morning Report, 7:19 am on 24 January 2020

East Coast police say they're concerned at the number of weapons they're finding while investigating gang-related shootings in Ruatoria and Taradale last weekend.

Several people have been arrested over the past two days as part of the crackdown.

Two men in Ruatoria and Gisborne, aged 26 and 29, have been arrested and charged with the commission of a crime involving a firearm, and for threatening acts.

And a 31-year-old man was arrested in Havelock North charged with methamphetamine possession and possession of an offensive weapon.

A further two men were arrested in Flaxmere, one of whom had a large knife and the other a small axe.

Corin Dann spoke to Eastern District Commander Superintendent Tania Kura who said a lot of weapons had been turning up in police searches.