Dawn raids net drugs, guns

Press, 13 December 1989, Page 1

Dawn raids net drugs, guns

By

CULLEN SMITH

Police seized firearms, drugs and stolen property in a series of dawn raids in Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Ashburton and Timaru yesterday. Forty-four people were arrested at the end of an undercover operation codenamed “Leadlight.” Guns found during the raids were a cut-down .22 rifle, a .22 replica self-loading rifle and an air rifle. Stolen property seized: by the police included a Falcon

car, a jet-ski, cameras and stereo equipment. More than 100 cannabis plants were seized, together with leaf and seeds, and a quantity of prescription drugs. Most of the arrests were for cannabis offences, said the operation commander, Detective Senior-Sergeant Kevin Burrowes, of the Christchurch C. 1.8. Offences ranged from supplying cannabis and cannabis oil to selling temgesics (pain-killing tablets) and receiving stolen property. Further arrests are likely.

More than 140 police officers were involved in the co-ordi-nated raids which ended months of work by a special duties constable based at Kaiapoi. Three arrests were made in the Timaru area and one in Ashburton as the police searched 47 houses from 7 a.m., using warrants under the . Misuse of Drugs Act. Two people were arrested in October for receiving stolen property as a result of the operation. Detective. Senibr-Sergfeant Burrowes said the successful opera-

tion would have a significant impact on the Christchurch drug scene. He praised the work of the young undercover officer involved. “The drug scene is a difficult one to infiltrate. Undercover work is extremely stressful and demanding, with high personal risk,” Detective Senior-Sergeant Burrowes said. “His hard work and dedication is shown by the number of arrests and the amount of intelligence he collected,” he said. Undercover officers were carefully monitored during operations and the officer, aged 29, would be well debriefed and take leave before returning to normal duties. Detective Senior-Sergeant Burrowes said the number of drugrelated arrests in the last year indicated a serious drug problem. “However, operations like these have an impact on the drug scene and I am sure drug dealers will be more cautious in their dealings — in the short term anyway,” Detective SeniorSergeant burrowes said. The prime focus of the operation was drugs. The police were surprised at the extent of the drug scene in Kaiapoi. The undercover officer bought cannabis in foil and ounce lots over the period of the operation. Temgesic tablets found in the raids could fetch between $35 and $4O each on the street, Detective Senior-Sergeant Burrowes said. Police dogs and a Customs drug dog were used in the raids. Those arrested offered no resistance. , * “Leadlight” was the fourth undercover operation in Canterbury in just over a year.