Police report that five people are arrested after a multi-agency operation targeting an alleged illicit tobacco network in the North Island. The raids follow a six-month investigation that involves multiple search warrants across several regions. Media reports say authorities execute 21 search warrants in locations including Rotorua, Waikato and Auckland. During the operation, police seize more than 1.3 million illegal cigarettes. The cigarettes are described as part of an illicit supply chain, though the reports do not provide specific details on brands, intended markets, or the full structure of the alleged network. Police did not indicate in the available coverage whether further arrests are expected. The case is framed as a crackdown on illegal tobacco, with the investigation conducted through cooperation among agencies, including law enforcement units involved in organised crime and contraband detection. The arrests and seizures are the principal outcomes reported from the operation.