Methamphetamine bust: one in two 19-year-old men arrested, cash, weapons and drugs seized

Two patched-up gang members have been arrested after methamphetamine, cash and drugs worth $2.2 million were found during a search in Hawke's Bay.

A 19-year-old man and a 34-year-old man face drug and firearms charges after the raid in Napier on Tuesday evening and were due to appear in Hastings District Court on Wednesday.

Police said two Public Safety Team (PST) officers and a tactical dog team got far more than they bargained for when they arrived at an address in Onekawa around 6:45 p.m., looking of a 19-year-old man with a warrant for his arrest.

Upon seeing a firearm through the window, officers obtained and executed a search warrant on the property, locating a replica .22 caliber AK47, a .22 caliber pistol, 5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, ammunition and cash.

“This is outstanding work from the officers involved,” said Detective Inspector Martin James, head of Eastern District Crime Services.

“They were there to accomplish a fairly routine policing task, but they were also focused on the bigger picture.”

James said spotting the gun was a big win for community safety.

“We have taken two firearms off the streets, and the amount of methamphetamine found at this address is significant: it is equivalent to approximately 275,000 doses.

“If this had been sold to users in our community, it would have caused indescribable harm.”

The retail value of the meth was approximately $2.2 million.

“That’s $2.2 million that will not go into the pockets of gang members to continue their criminal activities and victimize vulnerable people in our cities.”