Editorial: Drug raids good for community

It is always good to lead the newspaper with a successful operation by police, and you don't get more successful than the one carried out this week.

Today's front page has the story of raids on 19 properties along the East Coast. Sixteen people were arrested and 170 cannabis plants, 3.5kg of dried cannabis, 50 tinnies and $3000 in cash seized.

The raids follow the successful prosecution and sentencing in the Napier District Court this week of three people for methamphetamine offences.

It is good that police are coming down on drug dealers. It sends a strong message to people that if they indulge in that sort of behaviour they will be caught and justice will take its course.

Drugs are a problem in our society and our youth are targeted by these dealers.

Big statements like these arrests and prosecutions show dealers that police and the community will not tolerate any forms of drugs.

Police have decided that the way to go is to target known drug dealers and growers specifically and they have warned that more arrests are likely.

Interestingly, the head of the Eastern Organised Crime Unit, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Foster, said police had noticed a strong link between burglary and drugs. He said burglaries were "invariably" committed to fund drug debts or to buy drugs.

If these drug raids lead to burglaries being solved as well then it is a good result for all those who have been burgled.

Our police officers deserve a pat on the back.