"This has been a very good result for the Eastern District in terms of offenders arrested and the drugs, cash, firearms and stolen property recovered."
He said the operation was a result of about a month of police planning, surveillance and tip-offs.
"Hopefully it will make a reasonable dent [in organised crime] but it is the flow on effect with things like burglaries where we will really see a real positive impact.
"There continues to be a strong link between burglaries and drugs. Burglaries are invariably committed to fund drug debts or to buy drugs and the two go hand in hand. Ultimately the general public are the ones that pay the price."
He said the anonymous Crimestoppers phone line was proving invaluable with more and more people providing information, especially around drugs and drug-dealing activity.
"Crimestoppers has been absolute gold for us - often we can't act on the information we get from Crimestoppers alone but it may provide that extra piece of information we need to gain a search warrant.
"I've been really impressed with the amount of information being provided and want to reassure the public that this information is constantly analysed."
He said many of the arrests in the raids were as a result of information provided by the public.
"The phone line's anonymity is a huge drawcard for people who would not otherwise talk to the police."
Mr Foster said those arrested were found in properties in Waipukurau, Hastings, Napier and Gisborne and will appear in their respective district courts within the next two weeks.
He said they are facing a number of charges including supplying methamphetamine and cannabis, unlawful possession of firearms, theft, theft of electricity and cultivating cannabis.
Police are continuing to urge anyone who has information about drug dealing to ring local police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.Police P lab busts, p6
