A pair of police raids yielded guns and drugs and led to arrests last week, according to Nanaimo RCMP.
Following a report of a man seen with a rifle on June 20, police attended a house in the 500 block of Dundas Street, the scene of drug arrests and alleged prostitution incidents in the past year.
A man was arrested and a 30-30 rifle seized. Other adults seen leaving the house were detained and questioned.
After a search warrant was acquired and carried out, a loaded .22-calibre rifle, replica pellet gun and ammunition were seized, along with small quantities of heroin and methamphetamine.
Two males, aged 32 and 51, face a number of criminal code and drug charges in relation to the incident.
In a separate search on June 23, Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team assisted police at a house in the 400 block of Nicol Street, the scene of 90 alleged drug and violence-related incidents in the past year.
Police entered the home and a 36-year-old female and 46-year-old male were arrested and face firearms and drug-related charges.
A bolt-action .22-calibre rifle, bolt-action 30-30 rifle, pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, pellet gun and ammunition were seized.
Police say approximately 57 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine and 750 ml of GHB were also confiscated.
In a press release, Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said shutting down the houses has been a focus of Street Crimes and Drug Unit for some time.