A man has appeared in court this morning charged with firearms offences after police responded to reports of an alleged armed kidnapping yesterday.
Police arrested a 29-year-old West Coast labourer 90kms from Christchurch where a 70-year-old driver allegedly told service station staff that an armed man was forcing him to drive to the West Coast.
At Christchurch District Court today, the man, a labourer from a small West Coast town, faced three firearms charges, including unlawful possession of a 9mm rifle and 8mm pistol, and unlawful possession of 10 9mm rounds and 10 8mm rounds.
No kidnapping charges have been laid in court today.
The police investigation is ongoing.