Girl, 3, found next to bags of P - police

A 3-year-old girl was allegedly found next to bags of P and cannabis when police entered a Hamilton house for a drug bust overnight.

Sergeant Charles Burgess said police were alarmed that a small child was living among alleged illicit drug sale operations.

Police were called to a Hillcrest home at 12.30am after a man was seen lingering under a tree, Mr Burgess said.

The man was arrested for possession of drugs, and police entered a nearby home with a search warrant.

They alleged they found bags of P and cannabis - and a 3-year-old girl in the lounge of the house.

"Obviously it's of concern to us that we encounter a wee child in the same location as commercial quantities of drugs and the Child Youth and Family Service have been notified about what we encountered," Mr Burgess said.

A machete was also recovered in a bedroom and a man and a woman from the house were arrested and charged with possession for supply of both cannabis and methamphetamine.

- NZHERALD STAFF