Twelve people are in custody after an incident in Auckland that was believed to involve firearms.
Police swarmed Swan Crescent, Pakuranga at 5:30pm on Thursday after receiving reports of "suspicious behaviour" believed to involve firearms, Auckland area shift commander Inspector Kerry Watson told Newshub from the scene.
No shots were fired.
"We received information of suspicious activity in the Pakuranga area. We've sent a large number of resources here, including our police helicopter," he said.
The armed offenders squad was also sent as a precaution, he said.
"As a result of what we observed, we have tried to stop two vehicles. One vehicle initially took off from us and has been stopped. We stopped both vehicles and we have taken a number of people into custody."
Police later confirmed that 12 people were taken into custody.
"We received information that firearms were involved. We're still in the process of searching addresses," Insp Watson said.
The 12 people taken into custody are thought to have gang affiliations, he said.
"No one has been hurt and no members of the public have been put in danger," Insp Watson said.
"The message to the gangs is, 'Stop what you're doing, it's just ludicrous'. At the end of the day, we have large resources, and we will send them whenever we have an indication of firearms."
He added that local residents would've heard some loud bangs, but these were just distraction devices.
