°Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ Police have simultaneously swooped in on three properties, seizing a significant cache of firearms.
A number of Police, assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad, executed the warrants at New Lynn properties on Friday 15 December.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Williams, °Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ CIB, says a man was arrested and is facing serious firearms related charges in court.
Thirty-five firearms were located along with a range of ammunition in excess of 15,000 rounds for those firearms.
¡°These search warrants were the result of an investigation into the unlawful possession of firearms allegedly belonging to this individual.
¡°As a result of our enquiries, a significant cache of firearms, ammunition, and explosives were located from two of the searched addresses.¡±
A 53-year-old man was also located at the address and taken into custody without incident.
While the man did hold a firearms licence, many of the firearms located were allegedly unlawfully in his possession.
Detective Senior Sergeant Williams says the man¡¯s licence has since been suspended by Te Tari P¨±reke, the Firearms Safety Authority.
¡°The man is facing 29 charges relating to the unlawful possession of firearms and magazines, as well as an additional charge of possession for supply of cannabis,¡± he says.?
The man has appeared in the Wait¨¡kere District Court and is due to reappear on 8 January 2024.
Detective Senior Sergeant Williams says he would like to acknowledge the Policing teams who worked to put this individual before the Court.
¡°This has been the accumulation of significant work from staff across many different workgroups and I thank those who have played a part in bringing this to a resolution.¡±
Police would like to reassure the public that Police remain committed to holding those who engage in this behaviour accountable.
¡°Anyone who is in breach in of the Arms Act can expect to face those consequences,¡± Detective Senior Sergeant Williams says.
¡°We continue to work to ensure our communities are and feel safe.¡±
As this matter is now before the courts Police are limited in providing further comment.
ENDS.
Anna Thompson/51½ÖÉä
