KEY POINTS:
Police say they have recovered another pistol from a large collection of guns allegedly sold by a Coromandel collector on the black market.
The Glock automatic pistol was found in a bag by a man who stopped his car on State Highway 25, near Thames on Friday. A sawn-off shotgun was found nearby.
"Operation Might" head Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Nicholls said the pistol was one of 121 restricted weapons police allege collector John Noel Mabey sold on the black market.
Six other weapons have been recovered.
Mabey's collector's licence was revoked at the end of August when he was arrested on 20 firearms offences and a charge of making a false statement to police.
He told police 121 pistols, semi-automatic rifles and sub-machine guns were stolen.
Police offered an amnesty for the return of the haul of weapons.
Mr Nicholls said a man driving on the Kopu-Hikuai Rd stopped to toilet his dog last Friday and found the pistol and shotgun in bush off the road and contacted police.
"While we are grateful two more weapons are off the street police want to remind the public another 114 weapons, including sub-machineguns, pistols, assault rifles and machineguns remain unaccounted for."
Mr Nicholls urged anyone with information on the weapons to contact police and not be tempted into buying them.
"In September a man on the run from police fired at officers in Auckland, he was found in possession with two pistols from the missing collection.
"The illegal use or possession of such items can lead to tragic consequences, not only for the offender but police and members of the public."
Information on the missing firearms can be left anonymously on 0800 BUSTHEM, (0800 2878436).
- NZPA
