Police raid comes up empty

Senior constable Dave Kirk of the Pongaroa Police guards the door to Dannevirke's Coin Save early yesterday afternoon after police swooped on the premises. Photo/Christine McKay

Dannevirke police were acting on strong information when they carried out a raid on Coin Save yesterday afternoon, detective sergeant Shane Brown says.

Police from Dannevirke, Norsewood and Pahiatua, along with a drug dog and handler raided the High St store in the early afternoon, acting on information from a member of the public, Mr Brown said.

"It had to be good information or we wouldn't have been able to obtain a search warrant."

No drugs were found during the search. Coin Save owner John, who did not reveal his last name, said last night he did not sell drugs and was surprised to find someone had tipped off police.

He said two BB guns and a knife were confiscated by police during the raid. Claiming to be the longtime owner of the store, John said he had never sold drugs from Coin Save but does retail pipes and bongs.

A dog was going throughout the store yesterday alerting police to anything suspicious.

The extensive search continued throughout the afternoon.

"We only get one crack at this and we want it to be a good one," senior constable Dave Kirk said.

Mr Brown later told Hawke's Bay Today no drugs were found .

"There will be no drugs charges but we will have a look at these weapons over the next few days and determine if charges will be laid."

He said no arrests were made during the raid.

Coin Save was one of the Dannevirke premises targeted last year for selling legal highs, with outraged members of the community demanding the store cease selling.

Todd McClay, the Associate Minister of Health, had the Psychoactive Substances Bill passed into law in July last year.