Waikato Police have arrested three people in relation to large quantities of cannabis found in Matamata and Piako.
Roughly nine kilograms of dried cannabis buried in underground storage pits were dug up by Police executing a search warrant at a rural Matamata property on Tuesday.
As well as the buried cannabis, hundreds of immature cannabis seedling was found as well as a cache of firearms and ammunition, methamphetamine, cannabis oil and LSD.
Two of the firearms located were loaded and two had had been cut down to become pistols.
The warrant was one of three executed at Matamata addresses by the Eastern Waikato CIB, assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad and Organised Crime.
A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with supply and possession of methamphetamine, cannabis cultivation, possession of cannabis for supply, unlawfully possessing a pistol, two counts of unlawfully possessing a firearm, and possession of cannabis oil for supply. He has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Hamilton District Court on November 11.
Another 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of methamphetamine utensils and possession of cannabis for supply. He has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Hamilton District Court on December 7.
A 33-year-old man has been charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of cannabis for supply, and unlawfully possessing a firearm. He will appear in the Hamilton District Court on October 26.
This is not the first time in recent weeks evidence of drug offending has been dug up by Eastern Waikato CIB.
Last week, officers dug up 10 litres of Gabba-Butyrolactone (GBL) when they executed a search warrant at a rural property just outside Morrinsville.
That warrant was part of an investigation by East Waikato CIB into multiple importations of GBL involving hundreds of litres of the substance often referred to as the "date rape drug". A 47 year old local man is now before the Courts charged with importing and supplying the Class B Controlled Drug.
Waikato East Area Manager for Investigations, Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke says both seizures and arrests are a big win for Police and for the community.
"The seizure of GBL in particular is expected to have a significant impact on the sale and supply of this harmful drug in the Matamata and Piako community," she says.
