CITY DRUGS BUSTS SHOW UP LINK TO BURGLARIES

A 12-hour bust on Hamilton city drug houses yesterday turned up more
than $15,000 worth of cannabis and about $15,000 worth of stolen
property.

The early morning raids involved 40 police and two drug dogs.
Eighteen city addresses known to police for drug and stolen property
offences were targeted.

Operation co-ordinator Sergeant Wayne Reed said police had uncovered
a link between the rise in burglaries and drug houses.

Mr Reed said stolen property was being swapped for drugs.

Detective Evan Billington, who led one of five police teams,
recovered property from recent burglaries along with cannabis, a
hydroponic garden unit and half a kilogram of class A drug magic
mushrooms.

Ten people will appear in the Hamilton District Court.