The correlation between dishonesty offending and the trade in drugs was further reinforced in Hamilton overnight with the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Frankton yesterday.
Detective Sergeant Paul Thompson of the Hamilton Law Enforcement Team said officers went to the address shortly before lunch to carry out a search for stolen items.
"On arriving at the home officers found several P pipes and a number of empty small plastic bags that appeared to have contained methamphetamine in a bedroom.
"We became concerned we were dealing with a bit more than drug paraphernalia when chemicals were discovered resulting in a call for an Auckland based Clandestine Laboratory Team to attend the scene."
As a result the property was cordoned off and guarded by armed Police overnight and a search of the property resumed this morning.
Mr Thompson said initial analysis by the Clan Lab team resulted in a determination that the items found were consistent with a manufacturing operation and two people from the address were arrested.
The pair, a man and a woman, will appear in the Hamilton District Court today charged with manufacturing methamphetamine.
Mr Thompson said yesterday's discovery reinforced the Police message of dishonesty offending being inextricably linked to the illicit drug trade.
"These people can be carrying out their activities anywhere, from a quiet suburban street to an isolated rural property, nowhere is safe.
"What we ask is that if you believe something is amiss near your home that you contact Police, we can't act on what we don't know about and it could be your kids at risk from these drugs or your television being stolen by a burglar to pay for their fix."
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