Five Arrested As Police Target Drug Dealing In Ōpōtiki

Five people have been arrested and are due to appear in court on multiple charges following four search warrants in Ōpōtiki on Wednesday.

Search warrants were carried out at Ōpōtiki addresses which were understood to be involved in the sale and supply of drugs.

Five people were arrested, and Police seized drugs along with evidence of drug dealing.

Police were also seriously concerned about dealing from one address, where children and young people were present and implicated in the supply of cannabis.

Superintendent Tim Anderson says Police will continue these operations to disrupt the sale and supply of drugs to the community.

“I’m very proud of our Police officers across Ōpōtiki and Eastern Bay of Plenty who do not and will not tolerate the harm caused from drug dealers in our communities,” Anderson says.

• A woman, 47, who was on bail for selling controlled drugs was arrested again for possession of cannabis and methamphetamine and for breaching her bail conditions not to be in possession of controlled drugs.

  She was due to appear in the Ōpōtiki District Court yesterday.

  
  

• A man, 59, was charged with possession for the purpose of supplying cannabis and is due to appear in Ōpōtiki District Court on 23rd October.

  
  

• A man, 26, was charged with possession of ammunition and further charges are likely in relation to drug offending.

  He is due to appear in Ōpōtiki District Court on 23rd October.

  
  

• A youth, 17, was also charged with possession of controlled drugs for the purpose of supply.

  He is due to appear before the Ōpōtiki Youth Court on 13th November.

  
  

• A man, 39, was charged with two offences in relation to displaying prohibited gang insignia.

  He is due to appear in Ōpōtiki District Court on 23rd October.

Police were also able to gather evidence relating to an ongoing motorbike disorder in town, to which enquiries continue.

Superintendent Tim Anderson says he’s very thankful to members of the community who report this type of offending to Police.

“Please keep it up,” he says.

“It really does make our communities much safer places to live, work and play.”

"Police are committed to reducing drug related harm in our communities by targeting those who gain money through supplying drugs with the potential to cause serious harm into our communities." Anderson says.

Police ask anyone who may have information that could assist in identifying or locating supplier of drugs into the community to call them on 105 or https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105.

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.