Cops nab drugs and poachers

Class A drugs and more than $20,000 in cash was seized by Tokoroa Police in a three- day search of South Waikato properties.

Senior Sergeant Graeme Hill said the police executed close to 20 search warrants in Tokoroa and Putaruru, targeting mainly drugs.

About $ 24,000 and 14 to 15 grams of methamphetamine was seized, as well as a large quantity of cannabis when operation Presence was carried out in March.

Paraphenalia and stolen property was also found and Hill said it appeared some of the items were traded for drugs.

About seven people have been arrested so far but Hill said there could be more.

Police also carried out Operation Taumata in the Tokoroa, Mangakino and Taupo area in relation to illegal hunting.

Hill said the poaching took place in the Taumata Plantations and Kaingaroa forest.

Twenty arrests were made and 40 trespass notices issued and a number of items confiscated including firearms, vehicles, animals and drugs.

‘‘If you are caught poaching in these areas, then the police will look to seize the vehicles and firearms,’’ he said.

Hill said Tokoroa police conduct similar operations all the time and what they found did not surprise them.

‘‘ We do them whenever and where ever, we’re always given information about it,’’ he said.

Despite regular busts, Hill recognised an ongoing drug problem especially the methamphetamine supply and it is down to constant availability.

‘‘It goes underground, you still have a section of society who use these recreational drugs,’’ he said.

The Class A drug is seen by Hill as dangerous and does not only have mental and physical effects.

‘‘Methamphetamine is a harmful substance and has so many side effects,’’ he said.

Despite education on the illegal substances Hill said there always seems to be users in the community.

According to the 2012/13 Ministry of Health amphetamine use report, 0.2 per cent of adults aged 16-64 who took part in the New Zealand Health Survey admitted they used amphetamines at least monthly.