Whanganui Police have recovered a significant quantity of drugs, firearms, cash and over $20,000 in stolen property and vehicles at an address near Taihape today.

A team of over 20 staff, assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad executed a search warrant at about 6.30am, and a 55-year-old local man has been arrested and charged with a number of offences.

Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Forlong of the Whanganui Police stated: "The address has been a target of ours for some time, and this morning when the search warrant was executed we located a number of items of interest. These included a variety of illegal drugs, firearms, cash and a number of items of stolen property."

Staff will remain at the address overnight and the search will continue throughout tomorrow.

"We will be going through the address with a fine tooth comb as I do not believe that we have located all of the stolen property, drugs or firearms." said DSS Forlong.

The arrested man will appear in the Wanganui District Court tomorrow.

Source: New Zealand Police.