Police end 10-month drugs operation with 20 arrests

Dunedin police ended a 10-month drug operation early today with 20 arrests.

Area controller Inspector Dave Campbell said Dunedin CIB's organised crime squad had been involved in an electronic and covert operation targeting the city's pool of drug dealers.

Seventy five police staff and seven customs officers, along with two drug sniffer dogs, executed 25 search warrants for Operation Harbour early this morning.

Those arrested face a variety of charges ranging from conspiring to import as well as supplying and offering to supply ecstasy. Others are facing LSD and cannabis charges.

Mr Campbell said police were still seeking "a couple of people" in relation to Operation Harbour.

"They're welcome to call in to the station at any time," he said.

The operation follows raids in the Hawke's Bay and Wairoa yesterday, which also led to the arrest of around 20 people.

Eastern District crime services manager, Detective Inspector Sam Aberahama, said the ongoing operation involved more than 60 police, including undercover officers, and searched addresses in Wairoa, Napier, Hastings and Waipukurau.

Mr Aberahama expected the number of arrests to increase as the operation progressed, and said Operation Oyster had "made a dent" in drug distribution in the area.

Police seized cannabis plants, methamphetamine, "drug paraphernalia and instruments", a sawn-off shotgun and some money.

Meanwhile, a methamphetamine supply ring has been busted in the Nelson region.

Four men from Nelson and one from Auckland will appear in court today on charges of conspiring to supply the drug and conspiring to manufacture it.

Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews of Motueka Police said the arrests were the culmination of several weeks of police investigations after a noticeable increase in the prevalence of P in the Nelson region.

He said specialist assistance had been drafted into the region and several addresses were being searched, with further charges expected.


- NZPA / NEWSTALK ZB