Night shift staff pursued a lead that led to a great catch for Mt Wellington Police this morning.
At around 3.20am, units were patrolling near Penrose Road when they stopped a vehicle.
"Once stopped the officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside," Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says.
"A search of the vehicle was invoked and resulted in a guitar case containing an unloaded military style pump action shotgun was located in the boot."
Also found were four shotgun shells, a small amount of cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia.
"This was great proactive police work by our officers, which has resulted in a high-powered weapon being removed from our community," Inspector Dolheguy says.
A 34-year-old male will appear in the Auckland District Court this morning charged with possessing a firearm and possessing cannabis.
