KEY POINTS:
Police are continuing their search of Buller properties today after a massive cannabis bust on Monday.
Police made several arrests on Monday, after uncovering a multi-million dollar cannabis cultivation and supply ring centred around Westport.
The search would continue today with raids on properties in central Westport and to the southwest at Cape Foulwind.
The operation had achieved its aim of ending the cannabis cultivation and distribution syndicate, said the officer in charge of the operation, Detective Inspector John Winter.
Yesterday, four people were arrested on drug-related charges in relation to Operation Marvel, he said.
A helicopter also found another cannabis-growing operation near Charleston, 20km south of Westport, unconnected with Operation Marvel, and another person was arrested.
Ten firearms (including an SKS semi-auto rifle) and some explosives, were found at the property, said Mr Winter.
Police had not found all those involved, but they would be found soon, he said.
Other charges were likely to be brought against some of the major defendants, who were already in custody.
Police had a very clear picture of the nature and extent of the syndicate and the sums of `dirty' money they were generating.
The busted syndicate was involved in both indoor and outdoor cannabis growing.
Mr Winter believed it had been operating for some time and was worth several million dollars.
A large number of exhibits had been seized in the raids.
- NZPA
