Two men with Black Power links have been arrested after police found a “plethora” of guns, gun parts, and ammunition while carrying out a search in Gisborne.
Officers made the discovery following a search of a home on Titoki St on July 11.
The guns and gun parts were found in a large trailer, similar to a horse float, which had been parked on the front lawn.
Inside the trailer were several containers holding parts for a “number of firearms”.
“While most had been broken down, some were intact. Parts and ammunition were also found inside the house, sheds, and a vehicle,” Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Moorhouse said.
“Police have assessed that the large haul of parts had the potential to generate several operational firearms if the correct knowledge and skill was applied to their rebirthing.”
Among the parts were various makes and models of gun barrels, wooden stocks, trigger systems, and other parts.
A “large amount” of ammunition was also found.
Moorhouse said none of the residents at the house had firearms licences, and police found there had also been attempts to reload ammunition and create a working gun.
“Some of this ammunition had been reloaded to such a poor degree that police were satisfied that any attempt to use it could have resulted in injury to the person trying to use it,” he said.
“It’s not every day you see this quantity of firearm parts. Even in this poor condition, these would be highly sought after by some in the criminal community.”
Two Gisborne men, aged 21 and 38, were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
They have been remanded in custody and will reappear in the Gisborne District Court on July 29 and August 1, respectively.
Moorhouse said he was “delighted” by the result of the raid.
“There is now no chance of these weapons or ammunition getting into the wrong hands and no chance of them causing harm to the people in our community.”
