A 50-year-old Tauranga sickness beneficiary and his 21-year-old son, also a Tauranga sickness beneficiary, will appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow following the discovery of 350 grams of drugs hidden in a storage unit at a Mount Maunganui apartment block, along with a sizeable sum of cash.
The discovery was made on 20 January and follows a Police investigation which began in December last year.
Inside the storage unit Police discovered two sealed bags containing white powder and a third containing approximately $15,000 cash. Analysis of the powder has confirmed it to be 130 grams of the Class A drug cocaine and 220 grams of the Class A drug methamphetamine.
Cocaine is an imported, highly addictive powder drug not commonly found by Police in Bay of Plenty.
This seizure follows enquiries at the apartment complex in December last year when one man was arrested when found in possession of 6 grams of methamphetamine and 25 grams of cocaine.
Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier, of the Mount Maunganui Police said: "This is a significant seizure. The cocaine has a potential street value of between $260,000 and $1 Million, depending on purity, while the methamphetamine alone has a street value of approximately $220,000. Cocaine is a highly sought-after and heavily addictive drug and it is unusual to locate such a large quantity at one time. The seizure of this large quantity of drugs, destined for the street market, will undoubtedly prevent significant community harm. We will continue to treat any information concerning drug-dealing activity with urgency."
Enquiries are continuing and more arrests are likely.
The arrested men face charges of:
1. Importing cocaine
2. Possession of cocaine for supply
3. Supplying cocaine
4. Possession of methamphetamine for supply
5. Supplying methamphetamine
If you have information about drug manufacture and supply or any other offending, ring your local police station. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.
