The RCMP's Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team was called in to back up investigators on a drug bust over the weekend.
Mounties searched a home on the 1100 block of Totem Road Saturday, but called in the response team over concerns for the safety of police and the public.
The search turned up firearms and drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, hash oil, marijuana and unidentified pills.
Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong, Nanaimo RCMP spokeswoman, said information about the number and types of firearms seized was not being released by investigators until it was determined the descriptions of the weapons would not identify certain individuals and whether the firearms had been used in other crimes.
Four people were taken into custody and later released.
The investigation is continuing and Armstrong said police will be recommend charges for drug trafficking and firearms offences against a 31-year-old man and 20-year old-woman, both from Nanaimo.