Big heroin haul in police raids

Press, 5 November 1983, Page 1

Big heroin haul in police raids

PA Auckland Auckland detectives have seized thousands of dollars worth of heroin, cannabis, LSD, illegal firearms, and van loads of stolen property. Eighty detectives, uniformed police, customs officers, and eight dogs raided houses in Auckland from Mairangi Bay to Manurewa, after the issue of 40 search warrants at the end of a three-month investigation into drug imports. The police arrested 21 people in Auckland, one in Taupo, and three in Wellington.

Detective Inspector lan Hastings, who headed the Auckland operation, said about 100 grams of heroin was seized from a Mairangi Bay house. “It was hidden in a child’s bedroom in a box beneath the floor boards which were covered by a carpet. “The heroin could have a

street value of up to $lOOO a gram.

“Ten grams of heroin was also found at a house in Ponsonby hidden jn flower pots. We recovered more at a Mission Bay house when dogs found it hidden under a paving slab in the driveway,” said Mr Hastings. The police have also seized a machine pistol and a Colt 45 revolver. “Two more revolvers and $15,000 were also recovered from an inner-city deposit box,” said Mr Hastings. “In Taupo we have arrested one person after find-

ing a .32 revolver, 76 LSD trips, and half a pound of cannabis.”

Stolen property worth $lO,OOO including clothing, electrical appliances, and a stove was seized from a Papatoetoe house.

“We had to use a van to bring it all back to the police station,” said Mr Hastings.

The raids began at 2 p.m. on Thursday and finished early yesterday morning. The police have been making further inquiries and more arrests may follow. Court report, page 8