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.