UPDATED 11.47am: A man and a woman have been arrested after armed police raided a house in North Canterbury this morning.

A large number of Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) officers, along with plain clothed detectives and uniformed officers carried out a search warrant on a house in Rangiora, 25kms north of Christchurch this morning.

It is suspected to be linked to illegal drugs.

A police spokeswoman said a man and a woman have been arrested. No charges have yet been laid.

Police say they are unable to release any more information at this stage.