UPDATE: Operation Chestnut

Marlborough Police located 17 firearms and 16,000 rounds of ammunition following a search warrant executed in Crail Bay on Friday, 10 December.

The warrant was executed as part of Operation Chestnut, an ongoing investigation into the sale and supply of methamphetamine and associated offending in the Tasman, Wellington, Central and Eastern Police districts.

Many of the weapons are prohibited.

“It’s unusual to find such a large collection of firearms out in the community, and getting them off the street is a big win,” says Detective Inspector Paul Baskett.

“We will continue to work to prevent harm in the community by targeting those who hold prohibited firearms and those who profit off of the sale of methamphetamine.”

A 44-year-old man will be charged in relation to these matters and is next due to appear in Wellington District Court on 23 December.

/NZ Police Public Release. View in full here.