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FREDERICTON - More than 30 people have been arrested in New Brunswick following raids on what investigators call an organized crime group that was smuggling guns into the province from the United States.

RCMP Sgt. Derek Strong says the operation - dubbed "Jerrican" - began seven months ago, and involved police agencies in New Brunswick and Maine. "We've had some great success," he said.

Strong wouldn't say how many or what type of guns were seized, other than they are a mix of handguns and long guns.

Police have scheduled a news conference for Thursday in St. Stephen, N.B.

Strong said the gun smuggling was part of a wider criminal operation.

"As far as we know right now, the importation of the firearms allowed the group to traffick in different things after that, to engage in other criminal activity," he added.

"This is a well organized criminal organization and we're very, very pleased with the results of Operation Jerrican so far."

The arrests were made in Saint John and St. Stephen.