Drug houses busted next to schools

Armed police have busted two drug houses just metres from two Bay school playgrounds - seizing 200 cannabis plants and making five arrests.
The discovery of the suspected drug dealing and growing operation so close to the two schools in Tauranga has shocked parents and school officials.
The five people were arrested in the early morning bust yesterday at a house on Windsor Rd opposite playing fields at Otumoetai College and Otumoetai Intermediate.
A Year 12 Otumoetai College student said it was a well-known fact throughout the school that there was a "tinnie house" nearby but she had not been sure of its exact location until yesterday morning. "I know a guy who buys weed from there and he's gutted he can't any more," she told the Bay of Plenty Times, standing opposite the house.
Parents waiting to collect their children after school yesterday were shocked to learn a drug house had been so close to the school gates.
"It's a bit shady being so close to the school you never know who they might be trying to sell the drugs to. Hopefully it hasn't been these kids who walk past every day," said a father parked outside Otumoetai Intermediate, only a few metres from the drug-house's driveway.
Another father waiting for college and intermediate students said: "I think most parents will be concerned to know this has been operating so close to the school grounds."
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named for fear her children could be targeted, said it had been obvious some illegal activity had been happening at the property for at least eight months.
"There are cars pulling up there all hours of the day and night. Sometimes they only stay for a few minutes and are gone. Sometimes they are there for a bit longer."
The mother suspected drug dealing after smelling cannabis wafting on the wind through her garden. "My kids started asking me what the funny smell was."
She often watched people pull up in the intermediate school carpark, dash across the road to the house and then leave. She noted all sorts of vehicles including tradesmen and "heaps of young fellas".
Detective Sergeant Paul Basham said police responded to a tip-off from the community that cannabis and other drugs were being sold from two houses on Windsor Rd.
Tauranga detectives carried out a search shortly before 6am and were backed by the Armed Offenders Squad after it was thought firearms were at the address.
During the search of the first house, 200 cannabis plants were allegedly found in a small garage and a quantity of dried cannabis was also allegedly found.
A 45-year-old man was charged with cultivating cannabis and possession of cannabis for supply. He appeared in Tauranga District Court and was remanded on bail to appear again in two weeks. I n the second house at the property, a number of cannabis tinnies and an amount of cannabis were also allegedly found.
A 35-year-old woman and two men, aged 27 and 43, were charged with possession of cannabis for supply and supplying cannabis. They were remanded on bail to appear in Tauranga District Court next week.
While police were at the property another man arrived. His vehicle was searched and cannabis was allegedly found. A 35-year is due to appear in court next week on cannabis-dealing charges.
The discovery has concerned police.
"Any people dealing drugs so close to a school is especially worrying and we have acted quickly on public information to shut this operation down," Mr Basham said.
"The major aggravating feature in this is its proximity to the school."
Otumoetai College principal Dave Randell was unaware of any school students buying drugs from the alleged drug dealing house but did know about suspicious activity after speaking with the school's truancy officers.
"Any drugs being offered for sale near a school is a major concern. It worries me."
Henk Popping, Otumoetai Intermediate principal, had also become aware of illegal activity happening at the house.
He said the school ran special programmes teaching children about the dangers of drugs and being approached by strangers. He said drug dogs had been through the school a number of times this year and it was clear of any drugs.