15 people in court after P raids in Eastern Bay of Plenty

Police during the raids in Kawerau. Photo/File

Fifteen people charged after drug raids in the Eastern Bay of Plenty have appeared in the Rotorua District Court today.

They appeared on a range of drugs charges before Judge Maree McKenzie and did not enter pleas.

They were Bradley Allan Beard, 26, Michael Paul Burrell, 41, Nicky Chase, 51, Demelza Lorraine Chisholm, 37, Dovi Terangikatuku Chisholm, 38, Tracey-Lee Enoka, 49, Frank Amadeus Milosevic 49, Te Ohorere Lucky Milosevic, 26, Donna Jacqueline Parker, 44, Arahia Mary Parker, 26, Kieth Pryor 45, Irene Raki, 50 Tania Tangira, 35, Phillip Tangira, 38, and Raiha Tawera, 29.

Dovi Chisholm, Demelza Chisholm, Beard and Arahia Parker were remanded to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on April 10.

Frank Milosevic, Te Ohorere Milosevic, Phillip Tangira and Tania Tangira were remanded in custody to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on April 11.

Chase, through his lawyer Scott Mills, inquired about bail given he had liver cancer and needed chemotherapy in Auckland. However, he never went ahead with the application.

Judge McKenzie said he would be taken to treatment by Corrections staff because it was a "basic human right". Chase was remanded in custody to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on April 11.

When Te Ohorere Milosevic appeared, he asked the judge to consider giving him bail.

"If you fellas remand me in custody I will lose my job. I've only been given two days off."

Judge McKenzie replied: "I am not anyone's fella."

Milosevic said "sorry miss", but Judge McKenzie said "don't call me miss", before remanding him in custody.

Donna Parker and Burrell have been remanded on bail to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on April 10, while Enoka, Pryor, Raki and Tawera have been remanded on bail to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on April 11.

Lawyers Mills, Tim Barclay, Harry Edward and Herman Roose appeared for the accused. Anna Pollett appeared for the Crown.

A media application to photograph the accused was declined by Judge McKenzie, who said it was premature.

There were about 20 members of the public in the public gallery as the accused were dealt with individually. Two women appeared visibly upset.

The court appearances follow 30 arrests yesterday as part of Operation Notus, that centred around the Mongrel Mob in Kawerau and the wider Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Several of those arrested appeared in Tauranga District Court via audio visual link yesterday afternoon.

They were Mark William Guptill, 43, Rangitupukiwaho Kevin Burgess, 33, Dean Karaitiana, 52, Inia Curry, 33, Slobodan Rahorei Milosevic, 27, Anahera Marie Iopata, 35, Trevor Parker and Jason Kirk Iopata, 43.

Most consented to a remand in custody by Judge Paul Mabey QC until their next court appearance on either April 10 or 11.

Seven people also appeared in the Whakatane District Court facing similar charges, and one each in the Gisborne and Hastings courts.