Drug raid closes caravan park

A dilapidated caravan park described as a "boil on the backside of South Auckland police" was closed down yesterday after a massive drug raid involving more than 100 police officers.

The raid took place over six hours at the Green Acres Caravan Park in Mangere and resulted in the arrest of 12 people, including the manager.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said Green Acres was a well-known drug supermarket and police had attended nearly everything from domestic disputes to sexual violations there in the past few years.

"It was the boil on the backside of the South Auckland police and it has been for a number of years," said Mr Grimstone.

Yesterday, police descended on the caravan park to carry out one of the largest operations the district has seen in many years.

"It will die a natural death now."

Mr Grimstone said planning for the massive operation began two months ago and involved several authorities, including Manukau City Council.

Early yesterday morning, 110 police officers, dog handlers, fire safety officers, council staff, dog control officers and an electrical engineer gathered at police headquarters in Otahuhu for a final debriefing.

Just after 6.30am they left for 142 Favona Rd in 45 police cars.

Intersections were closed to allow the huge convoy to arrive together. The police Eagle helicopter followed from above.

By 7am, the caravan park - the subject of endless complaints from local residents - was raided.

As the officers worked their way through cockroach-infested caravans they found numerous bags of cannabis. They also found methamphetamine, two shotguns, one sawn-off rifle and a handgun.

A woman was arrested and charged with allowing the park to be used for illegal activities under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.

Eleven others were charged with a range of drug, firearms and property offences and were due to appear in the Manukau District Court yesterday afternoon and this morning.

Animal control staff seized 14 unregistered dogs which roamed the park grounds and posed a threat to the officers' safety.

By midday, the power was shut down, effectively closing the caravan park. Housing NZ staff were called in to offer residents temporary accommodation but it is understood some chose to remain at the powerless park last night.

The caravan park has at times been home to up to 300 people. Yesterday there were about 60, some of whom were children. Manukau City Council environmental health and enforcement manager Kevin Jackson said the park had been operating since 1986 but did not have a camping ground licence. Nor did it have code of compliances or resource consent.

Mr Jackson said the park had been the subject of many complaints and the council had been investigating since late last year.

An abatement notice - informing the owners that operations there must cease within 14 days - was served after the raid.

Mangere councillor James Papali'i said although there was an element of criminal activity there were also a lot of good people living at the park.

He said many tenants faced real hardships and his main concern was for their future if the park was permanently closed down.

The Herald was unable to contact the park's management for comment. The manager's mother referred queries to the police.

Operation Borer

December 2004

* Police start preparing for the raid.

Yesterday

* 6am - Police gather at Counties Manukau headquarters for a briefing.

* 6.45am - A convoy of 45 police cars arrive at 124 Favona Rd.

* 7am - Police work their way through caravans, finding cannabis, methamphetamine and guns.

* 12pm - Police leave, after charging a dozen people including the manager.

What they found

* Hundreds of tinnies and "dealing amounts" of methamphetamine.

* Two shotguns, one sawn-off rifle and one handgun.

* 14 unregistered and two registered dogs, which were impounded.

* 12 arrests, possibly more to follow.