A Tauranga father and his 21-year-old son are facing drug charges after more than $260,000 worth of cocaine was discovered at a Mount Maunganui storage unit.

The 50-year-old sickness beneficiary and his 21-year-old son, also a beneficiary, will appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow after 350 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine were found, along with $15,000 cash.

Cocaine and methamphetamine were discovered at a Mount storage unit.

The pair are charged with importing cocaine, possession of cocaine for supply, supplying cocaine, possession of methamphetamine for supply and supplying methamphetamine.

Police made the discovery on January 20 following an investigation which began in December last year.

Inside the storage unit police discovered two sealed bags containing white powder and a third containing approximately $15,000 cash.

Analysis of the powder confirmed it to be 130 grams of the Class A drug cocaine, and 220 grams of the Class A drug methamphetamine. Cocaine is an imported, highly addictive powder drug not commonly found by police in Bay of Plenty.

This seizure follows enquiries at the apartment complex in December last year when one man was arrested when found in possession of six grams of methamphetamine and 25 grams of cocaine.

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier says this is a significant seizure.

'The cocaine has a potential street value of between $260,000 and $1million, depending on purity, while the methamphetamine alone has a street value of approximately $220,000. 'Cocaine is a highly sought-after and heavily addictive drug and it is unusual to locate such a large quantity at one time.”
Darryl says the seizure of this large quantity of drugs, destined for the street market, will undoubtedly prevent significant community harm.

'We will continue to treat any information concerning drug-dealing activity with urgency.”

He says enquiries are continuing and more arrests are likely.