Kilo of meth seized in a week

Meth seized by police.

Hawke's Bay Police have seized the second sizeable amount of methamphetamine uncovered in the region over the past week.

On Wednesday afternoon, in the wake of a drug operation being carried out by the Eastern Police Organised crime Unit, a man was stopped in the carpark area of the Warehouse in Napier.

The 45-year-old man's car was searched and police uncovered about half a kilogram of the drug.

They also found a sawn-off shotgun and a quantity of cash.

Eastern Field Crime Manager Inspector Mike Foster said the man had been wanted on warrants on other matters.

He was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply.

Mr Foster said the seizure, along with a bust on the Napier-Taupo Rd last Saturday, meant over a kilo of methamphetamine destined for Hawke's Bay had been taken off the streets.

He added that the latest arrest was not connected to the operation last weekend where a similar amount of methamphetamine was found, along with drug utensils, after a vehicle was stopped on SH5 in a combined operation being carried out with Central District police.

In that incident armed police pulled a van over and arrested two men.

A 30-year-old Tararua man was charged with supplying, and possession for supplying methamphetamine.

He was remanded in custody after his first appearance in court and will reappear in Dannevirke District Court on August 21.

A second Tararua man, aged 31, was charged with possession of drug utensils.

Mr Foster said the two recent busts, and the amounts involved, showed that Hawke's Bay was not immune to what he called "major drug activities" and both seizures reflected a growing trend of illicit drugs being brought into the district for distribution.

"This sort of activity is having a huge impact on our communities, especially the vulnerable," Mr Foster said.

"We are working extremely hard to try to stop the flow of drugs into the area and it is hugely important that the community work with us to stamp out this activity and keep our people safe."

He described the amount of harm methamphetamine caused to communities as "astronomical".

Mr Foster said people were stealing items and committing other crimes to pay for their drug habits. "It's a never-ending circle," he said.

Police have been encouraging the public to come forward with information about drug activity in their area. Anyone seeing anything suspicious which they suspect could have a link to drugs is asked to call their local station or leave information anonymously and confidentially on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.