Today Christchurch Police have been involved in the termination of Operation Lime a national covert operation targeting commercial suppliers of equipment used for growing cannabis.

Over sixty staff were deployed on the termination which involved search warrants being executed at three business premises and six residential addresses.

Eleven persons have been arrested in Christchurch. They face a variety of charges relating to cannabis cultivation, selling equipment for the purpose of cultivating cannabis and selling cannabis plants. At this time police are not seeking the whereabouts of any other persons in connection with the inquiry.

Christchurch Police seized approximately 160 cannabis plants and seedlings, over thirty ounces of dried cannabis, and growing equipment. A pistol, two rifles and a shotgun were also seized. Business records were seized as evidence in relation to the investigation

Some of those arrested appeared in the Christchurch District Court today while others will be appearing in the next couple of days.