Police raids in eastern Southland have netted guns, drugs and stolen property and resulted in seven people facing charges.
Gore police executed 19 search warrants in an operation targeting offending involving firearms, Southland Area commander Inspector Mike Bowman said.
"This operation targeted a number of individuals identified as being allegedly unlawfully possessing and supplying firearms in the eastern Southland area following a number of incidents involving firearms that occurred in the area earlier this year."
Nationwide there was an increase in the reporting of firearm incidents, he said.
"The Southland area is not immune to this, [but] there is nothing to suggest that the Southland area is over represented from a national perspective."
The raids, two of which the armed offenders squad attended, began on June 9.
The latest charges were laid last week.
Three firearms, cannabis plants from two of the properties and over $8000 worth of stolen property were seized, he said.
The charges filed related to unlawful possession and supply of firearms and ammunition, receiving stolen property and possession and supply of methamphetamine and cannabis.
Those charged are due to reappear in the Gore District Court in the coming months.
"These arrests and charges should send a message to those members of the community engaging in this kind of offending, that police will be knocking on their door any time," he said.
- By Sandy Eggleston
