The Police Minister has defended deporting 11 Vietnamese nationals, believed to be part of an organised crime group, after a major drug bust.

The operation targeted 30 rented Auckland properties.

About 3000 plants were destroyed, along with 48 kilograms of dried cannabis - valued at $18 million.

But Mark Mitchell says deporting looked to be less of a hassle than going through the courts.

"They were here illegally, they were going to be a big cost to the taxpayer - the police and Immigration worked together, they had discretion around this and they thought the best thing to do was put them on a plane straight back to Vietnam."

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