Cannabis operation discovered
Armed police who raided a New Plymouth house had to go through decontamination showers after a suspected methamphetamine operation was found in the garage.
Police blocked off Turakina St in Merrilands, at the intersection with Mangorei Rd, about 11.30am on Friday after being called to a domestic incident at the house.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Matuku said when police officers entered the garage they were greeted by a strong chemical smell and the property was evacuated.
‘‘The police that made initial contact at the property became aware of what we believed was a suspected clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.’’
He said the appropriate emergency protocols, including cutting power to the address, had been put in place and police staff and the occupants had been put through a decontamination shower.
Two people found at the address were also arrested and would likely be facing charges.
However, following a more thorough search it was established it wasn’t a meth lab although it did still involve illegal drug activity.
‘‘We have discovered a cannabis cultivation operation of a moderate scale and a number of empty bottles of isopropyl alcohol.’’
Matuku said isopropyl alcohol was generally used in the manufacture of cannabis oil, a Class B drug. He said the initial chemical smell had to be treated seriously.
‘‘Police were confronted with occupants that ran from other areas of the property into the shed and then out.
‘‘The occupants appeared to be under the influence of drugs and were displaying a number of erratic signs that are associated with methamphetamine use.’’
Matuku said 47 cannabis plants were recovered from the address and police were dismantling the grow room.
Earlier police, fire and ambu- lance staff were at the scene and officers carrying Bushmaster rifles cordoned off intersections.
Firefighters wearing orange haz-mat suits entered the garage.
Cars were being turned away and residents on Turakina St who tried to leave their homes were told to get back inside. Turakina resident Zane Wood was shocked to find he was not able to get home to his wife and children.
Another resident said the occupants at the suspected address had only moved in a couple of months ago. She said they were disruptive, with loud noises coming from the house all day and night, and she had been keeping the lounge curtains closed because the new neighbours had been staring into her house.
‘‘We saw the cops jump the back fence and kick the back door in,’’ the woman, who did not want to be named, said.
David Niven was stopped heading home after being for a walk.
‘‘It was just mayhem, there were trucks, vans, everybody except the army was here.
‘‘I first thought it was a bomb and then after a discussion with someone in authority they told me I couldn’t go back home until it was resolved.’’
Another neighbour on Mangorei Rd, Brian Marshall, watched the drama unfold from his gateway.
‘‘I don’t actually know what has happened. I just saw all of the boys in blue arrive.
‘‘About 15 minutes before the police were on the scene a silver station wagon went flying around the corner and went up there at 100 mph.’’
"We have discovered a cannabis cultivation operation of a moderate scale..." Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Matuku