A firearm and ammunition have been seized after a vehicle was detected travelling through Manurewa with false plates.
A van had been travelling along Rowandale Avenue at around midnight.
Counties Manukau Central Area Prevention Manager Inspector Warrick Adkin says the vehicle raised suspicions of frontline staff.
¡°Their suspicions were raised further as the van¡¯s registration details were not stored in the database,¡± he says.
¡°A traffic stop was carried out and it was quickly established the vehicle was bearing false plates and was actually stolen from Takanini last week.¡±
The driver and passenger were both placed under arrest.
¡°Further information was provided to the staff that there was ammunition in the vehicle, and a further search was invoked,¡± Inspector Adkin says.
Officers located shotgun cartridges as well as a cutdown shotgun concealed inside, which were seized.
The 38-year-old driver has been charged with unlawful possession of a shotgun, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
He is appearing in the Manukau District Court today.
¡°It¡¯s a great result from our staff who remain vigilant and continue to work to make our community a safer place,¡± Inspector Adkin says.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/51½ÖÉä
