TWENTY ARRESTED IN DRUGS STING

Twenty people have been arrested and cannabis plants and
methamphetamine seized in drug raids in Hawke's Bay.

Yesterday's sting - the result of 10 months of detective and
undercover work - has been hailed as a blow to organised crime in the
region.

From dawn more than 60 police executed search warrants on 18 addresses
in Hastings, Napier, Waipukurau and Wairoa, believed to be involved in
a drug ring. Detective Inspector Sam Aberehama said police found two
hydroponic growing operations and seized methamphetamine, ecstacy,
three kilograms of cannabis, money and a sawn-off shotgun.

He expected there would be further arrests as part of Operation
Oyster, the 10-month police operation focusing on organised crime in
the district.

"We have targeted a group that is all part of a network that we
believe we have cracked.

"We would have to have made a dent in drug distribution in the
district given the number of people involved." He said some of those
arrested had gang affiliations. An undercover agent had been one of
the tools used to infiltrated the ring.

District Commander Superintendent Grant Nicholls said the operation
was particularly successful and followed one in Wairoa last month in
which 17 alleged gang members were arrested.