Queenstown police made no further arrests yesterday relating to Operation Dove, but Detective Sergeant Grahme Bartlett said as further phases were carried out, more people would be charged.
Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times reported nine people were arrested and now face a variety of charges relating to the sale of LSD, MDMA (ecstasy) and BZP, along with possession of cannabis, utensils, prescription medication and firearms.
The arrests came after 12 search warrants were executed in Glenorchy, Queenstown and Cromwell on Tuesday morning.
Four of those arrested appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday for a bail hearing.
All the eight men and one woman were expected to appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday.
Det Sgt Bartlett said more arrests would come, but could not indicate where or when.
Operation Dove, which began four months ago, was the third major operation targeting drug dealers in three years.
In August 2006, Operation Harbour concluded.
It was a seven-month investigation into the supply of ecstasy into Dunedin, and resulted in more than 50 arrests and the seizure of hundreds of ecstasy pills.
In August 2007, Operation Skylark, a joint operation between Queenstown Police and Customs ended in 14 arrests - three women and 11 men.
Det Sgt Bartlett said with all the police operations in the area in recent years, it was hard to keep track of the number of arrests.
He said the most recent operation did not necessarily mean the drug problem was worse.
"One of our concerns is there are people in this town and people that come to this town who are making a full-time or part-time living out of the supply of drugs, particularly in the winter season. This year . . . we decided to [target those people]."
Det Sgt Bartlett said it was of concern drug dealers did not seem to understand the sale and supply of drugs was against the law.
Those offenders would be caught, he said.
