Armed police raid burned-out mansion

By PATRICK GOWER

Armed police raided a burned-out mansion owned by an Auckland businessman yesterday, seizing both ammunition and drugs.

The Epsom property was surrounded for several hours by police hiding in neighbouring properties, including Government House, Auckland home to the Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright.

The raid was part of search warrants taken out by detectives from Auckland's Organised Crime squad.

The historic home on Omana Ave is owned by property developer Mark Lyon. It was valued at $3.1 million before it was one of three of his properties destroyed in separate late-night blazes two months ago.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier would not comment on earlier police reports relating to the drugs and ammunition, or why his squad had targeted the mansion.

"We just executed a warrant as a result of information that we had received and found it necessary to use the armed offenders squad."

Mr Brazier said Mr Lyon was not at the house during the raid, but said "we wish to speak to him".

Neighbours told the Herald police arrived early in the afternoon and hid in surrounding homes and gardens. They said dogs were used as about four people who were at the property were taken away over a back fence into Government House rather than out on to Omana Ave.

Police kept Mr Lyon's property under surveillance until about 8pm.

Dame Silvia was at Government House in Wellington hosting a formal dinner for Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.

Mr Lyon has gone to ground since the fires at Epsom, his Vulcan Lane offices in Auckland central and a converted barn in Queenstown.

All three are being investigated by police.

The blaze that gutted his Epsom mansion - once owned by 19th century industrialist J.J. Craig - could not be stopped by seven fire engines. It is understood that people have been living in the servants' quarters behind the gutted home.

Mr Lyon, who is in his late 40s, has been director of 17 companies during the past six years, and backed Auckland's award-winning Chancery shopping centre.

One of Mr Lyon's companies, Mana, owns the Omana Ave mansion.

His flamboyant nature once saw him pay $50,000 at a charity auction to lunch with Kylie Bax and American tycoon Donald Trump.

A warrant was issued for Mr Lyon's arrest earlier this month when he failed to appear in the Queenstown District Court on firearms and assault charges, but Mr Brazier said this was not linked to yesterday's raid.

Mr Brazier said three people were detained after the raid but it had not been decided if they would face charges.

* patrick_gower@nzherald.co.nz