Four in court after Christchurch drug raids

Four people have appeared in court after raids on clandestine drug labs in Canterbury early today, which police claim has busted open a large methamphetamine network.

A six-month drug investigation, code named Operation Granite, culminated in the raids by 160 police officers on three Christchurch labs about 6am.

Pseudoephedrine tablets capable of manufacturing over $300,000 worth of methamphetamine, a pistol, various drug-related chemicals and about $40,000 in cash were seized during the raids, police said.

Properties in the mid Canterbury town of Ashburton and at Rangiora, north of Christchurch, were also searched.

Organised crime squad Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer said the investigation was a joint operation between police and customs and looked into the commercial manufacture, distribution and sale of methamphetamine in Christchurch.

The investigation identified a number of people who had allegedly accumulated substantial wealth through supplying pseudeophedrine-based tablets - a key component in the manufacture of methamphetamine - as well as manufacturing and selling methamphetamine, he said.

Eleven people were arrested in the raids, four of whom appeared in Christchurch District Court today.

Hamish Houghton Chrisholm, 33, was charged with possession of a class A drug, possession of pipe, and stealing a $38,000 BMW car, the Christchurch Court News website reported.

He was bailed to reappear in court on June 23.

Matthew John Linton, 26, was remanded in custody until the same date after entering no plea to one charge of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.

A 28-year-old mother was granted interim named suppression and remanded in custody until tomorrow for knowingly permitting premises to be used for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Alexander Robert Troy Black, 26, was also remanded in custody until tomorrow after police opposed bail. He entered no plea to one charge of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.

Seven other people were also due to appear on other drug related and firearms charges.

Mr Archer said further charges were likely.

He said the operation was "very successful", identifying an alleged multi-million dollar crime syndicate.

- NZPA