Five arrests have been made and drugs seized as police target drug dealing in Ōpōtiki.

Four search warrants were carried out on Wednesday, October 15, at Ōpōtiki addresses believed to be involved in the sale or supply of controlled drugs.

Drugs and evidence of drug dealing were seized and five people arrested.

Police said of concern was the apparent dealing from one address where children and young people were present and implicated in the supply of cannabis.

Superintendent Tim Anderson said police would continue these operations to disrupt the sale and supply of drugs to the community.

“I’m very proud of our police officers across Ōpōtiki and Eastern Bay of Plenty who do not and will not tolerate the harm caused from drug dealers in our communities,” he said.

Evidence in relation to an ongoing motorbike disorder in town was also discovered and separate inquiries into that incident continue.

Anderson said he’s thankful to members of the community who report such offending to police.

“Please keep it up,” he said. “It really does make our communities much safer places to live, work and play.”

Police are committed to reducing drug-related harm in our communities by targeting those who gain money through supplying drugs that have the potential to cause serious harm in our communities.

If you have any information that may assist police in identifying and locating suppliers of drugs, please contact police on 105 or online via https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105.

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.