NICOLE Kidman and Tom Cruise are back together – at least in name – as part of a Gold Coast police operation into chemist robberies and the manufacturing of illegal drugs.

A police spokeswoman said the title Operation Kidman Cruise came about purely by coincidence following the "marriage" of two separate investigations – one called Kidman, and the other called Cruise.

Both operations, involving up to 10 detectives, were looking into the burglary of chemist shops in the police district stretching from Logan to Coolangatta, the spokeswoman said.

A 39-year-old man appeared in Southport Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with 12 break-ins at pharmacies on the Gold Coast, and another four in Northern New South Wales.

He was arrested at midnight on Sunday in Runaway Bay where police also found bags of chemicals, heating elements, and other items used to make drugs in an underground car park.

"This is a significant arrest in halting the supply of illegal drugs on to the streets," acting Detective Sergeant Scott Ingram said.

"Drugs have become more of a problem on the Gold Coast in the last few years, and obviously drugs and property crime go hand in hand."

Pseudoephedrine is commonly found in cold and flu tablets and can be used to make illicit drugs, including ice and speed.

As well as the break-in charges, the man was charged with four counts of bringing stolen goods into Queensland, seven fraud offences and wilful damage.

Despite the arrest, Operation Kidman Cruise was an ongoing investigation, the police spokeswoman said.

Hollywood heavyweights Kidman and Cruise split in December 2000 after almost 10 years of marriage.