State Highway 10 east of Taipa was blocked for some time on Monday evening while the Armed Offenders' Squad searched for a 23-year-old man, wanted for arrest on three breaches of release conditions, in the Lake Ohia area.
He was found at the second of two addresses that had been identified as potential locations, police seizing a quantity of ammunition, a loaded double-barrel shotgun and what was described as a .22 semi-automatic rifle that was being turned into a pistol. They also found small quantities of cannabis and another drug, as yet unidentified, the latter on the man's person.
Police had received information earlier in the evening that the "high-risk" offender, a patched member of the Tribesmen motorcycle gang, was at a Lake Ohia address. He was believed to be carrying firearms, so the Armed Offenders' Squad was called in to assist with the arrest.
He was found at about 11pm, and was arrested without incident. Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston said one item of interest found on the man's person was a copy of a newspaper article, believed to be from the Northland Age, including his wanted photo. He would face charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of cannabis and breach of court release conditions in the Kaitaia District Court.
