Stolen slide found in Marlborough drug bust

  • 26/02/2016
Marlborough police recover a slide believed stolen from the Blenheim park (Supplied)
Marlborough police recover a slide believed stolen from the Blenheim park (Supplied)

Drugs, firearms and a children's slide believed to be stolen from a Blenheim playground have been taken by police during searches in the region.

Three people are now facing charges in relation to the searches on Blenheim and Waikawa properties on Wednesday.

During the searches, police found methamphetamine, cannabis, 24 firearms were seized along with a major haul of stolen items.

Stolen slide found in Marlborough drug bust

 

Guns were among the many items seized by police (Supplied)

The slide is believed to have been stolen two years ago from Burleigh Park in Blenheim and has now been returned to the Marlborough District Council.

Council reserves and amenities manager Rosie Bartlett says she's glad police put "two and two together" when they found the slide because they were involved in the investigation when it went missing.

Two swings were also stolen along with the specially made slide, which had since been replaced. She says the swings were also found during the raid yesterday.

The Council had long since given up on finding the slide so it was "great" to get it back, Ms Bartlett says.

At the time of the theft, there had been a lot of public interest with people on the lookout for it.

The Council will now assess the slide to see whether it is still safe and whether it can be used at another park. 

Aside from the slide, motorcycles, a log splitter, concrete saw, ride-on lawnmower, generator, quad bike, chainsaws, commercial diesel heater, dingy, outboard motors, plumbing equipment and tools were found on the property.

Prevention Sergeant Mike Porters says those who use methamphetamine often support their habits by offending which impacts the wider community.

Two men, both 35, were taken into custody and will appear in the Blenheim District Court next month, while a 25-year-old woman was released on bail until her next appearance.

Newshub.