18 arrests as police swoop on P dealers in three cities

Police say $400,000 of the methamphetamine drug P seized in a nationwide operation yesterday would have been sold throughout the South Island within seven to 10 days.

The bust followed months of investigation into what police have described as major methamphetamine dealing by organised crime syndicates throughout the country.

There are also links to Asian crime syndicates, and police believe the drug was not locally made.

In a combined operation, 120 Customs and police staff executed search warrants in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.

Although no laboratories were found, more than $400,000 of P was seized, and 18 people in Christchurch and Wellington arrested.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Fitzgerald said the methamphetamine was not made in New Zealand.

"There are definitely international connections. That's how organised crime syndicates operate. You can only operate if you have got a decent franchise operation."

Mr Fitzgerald said methamphetamine was a huge problem.

"It results in a large amount of burglary, receiving, prostitution, aggravated robberies."

Dave Campbell, of Customs investigations, said there had been an explosive growth in the importing of materials to make P, which were becoming more and more difficult to intercept.

"As we discover one method of concealment, other methods of concealment are manufactured and expanded upon."

Mr Campbell said most of the materials were coming from Asia, China in particular.

"New Zealand has long been recognised as a growing market for these types of products and Asian organised crime and other organised crime take advantage of those market opportunities. I would expect this will be a continuing trend."

The arrested people face a number of charges including conspiracy to supply methamphetamine and the supply of the drug.

Police say the bust is expected to make "a huge hole" in the Canterbury methamphetamine market.