Three people have been arrested after a cache of cannabis, firearms, and methamphetamine was found in the Waikato town of Matamata.
Waikato police say 9kg of dried cannabis was found buried in underground storage pits dug up by staff while executing a search warrant on a rural Matamata property on Tuesday. Warrants were also executed at two other properties in the town.
Along with the cannabis, police found hundreds of immature cannabis seedlings, a cache of firearms and ammunition, methamphetamine, cannabis oil and LSD. Two of the guns were loaded and two were cut down to be pistols.
"A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with supply and possession of methamphetamine, cannabis cultivation, possession of cannabis for supply, unlawfully possessing a pistol, two counts of unlawfully possessing a firearm, and possession of cannabis oil for supply.
"He has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Hamilton District Court on November 11.
"Another 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of methamphetamine utensils and possession of cannabis for supply.
"He has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Hamilton District Court on December 7.
"A 33-year-old man has been charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of cannabis for supply, and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
"He will appear in the Hamilton District Court on October 26."
Police say this isn't the first time in recent weeks that evidence of drug offending has been dug up by local cops. Last week, officers dug up 10 litres of Gabba-Butyrolactone (GBL) when they executed a search warrant at a rural property just outside Morrinsville.
"That warrant was part of an investigation by East Waikato CIB into multiple importations of GBL involving hundreds of litres of the substance often referred to as the 'date rape drug'.
"A 47-year-old local man is now before the Courts charged with importing and supplying the Class B Controlled Drug."
Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke, the Waikato East Area Manager for Investigations, said both seizures and the arrests were a big win for the community and police.
"The seizure of GBL in particular is expected to have a significant impact on the sale and supply of this harmful drug in the Matamata and Piako community," she said.
Police said they would investigate reports of crime and act on it if there is sufficient available information for us to do so.
People can get in touch with Police via 105 or report information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
