Police in the Bay of Plenty today put two clandestine P-labs out of operation - smashing open an organised drug ring from potentially making millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine.

Operation Detroit culminated today in a series of search warrants in Maketu, Te Puke and Tauranga involving approximately 40 police staff from three districts.

Police executed a search warrant on a property in Maketu this morning as part of Operation Detroit. Inset: A man arrested after a P-lab burnt to the ground in Katikati on Sunday.

A total of 18 people have been arrested - 16 men and two women. Three men and one woman were arrested for a variety of cannabis offences. The remaining 14 all face a variety of Class A drug-related charges.

Police say thousands of dollars' worth of methamphetamine and precursors with the potential to make millions of dollars' worth of methamphetamine have been recovered during the four month operation along with firearms, ammunition, cash and a stolen motorbike.

Three motorbikes and two vehicles have also been seized under Proceeds of Crime legislation.

"These are sweet victories in an ongoing battle against organised criminals and gangs,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow.

'Methamphetamine causes nothing but misery and our communities have had a guts-full.

'Not only are we intent on disrupting the trade, we will take every opportunity to hit them where it hurts by having the proceeds of their criminal activity forfeited."

Police busted a cluster of properties on Maketu Road near the intersection of Spencer Avenue this morning.

A car was towed from a property and a V-Rod Harley Davidson motorbike was also belted onto a trailer for removal from one of the properties in Te Puke or Maketu.

SunLive understands residents of the properties busted in Maketu were Mongrel Mob members.

On Sunday a man with Mongrel Mob tattooed across his back was arrested at a Katikati property after a P-lab at a former factory building in Park Road blew up during a police operation.

Police arrested three people at the Katikati fire including 35-year-old Maketu man Karl Goldsbury who appeared in Tauranga District Court on Monday charged with arson and conspiring to deal methamphetamine.

He was remanded in custody to reappear on January 23.

Read more about the other accused and their charges here.

While most of Operation Detroit took place in the Western Bay of Plenty involving local staff and staff from Rotorua, Waikato Police helped execute three search warrants in Hamilton where a significant seizure of precursor material was made. Two arrests were made in Hamilton.

One P-lab was located in Tauranga last week and a second was the subject of the large fire in Katikati on Sunday.

The Katikati building that exploded on Sunday was one of the P-labs busted in Operation Detroit. Photo: Supplied.

If you have information about drug manufacture or supply, ring your local Police Station. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.