Police have charged two youth and four adults, following search warrants in Ōpōtiki today.
Seven search warrants were executed by Eastern Bay of Plenty police across the Ōpōtiki area today.
This activity was part of an operation targeting gang related disorder events that resulted in serious injury recently.
During the search warrants, Police focused on a core group of youth and young people alleged to be attempting to establish new chapters of gangs within Ōpōtiki.
adminAttributable to Inspector Phil Gillbanks:
A body has been recovered this afternoon near Moutohorā Island, north of Whakatāne.
Police were called to the area about 1.15pm after the body was discovered in the water by a member of the public.
The formal identification process has been undertaken, and the deceased has been confirmed as the 36-year-old woman who entered the Ōtara River mouth and Waioeka River mouth in Ōpotiki on Sunday. Her death will be referred to the Coroner.
adminPolice have paused the search for missing 47-year-old Erika Rodrigues Coelho.
This difficult decision follows extensive searches of the area since Erika was reported missing on 20 September.
Sergeant Terry Wood says Police would like to thank every person who has dedicated countless hours of their time to the Search and Rescue operation.
