Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Police seize and burn $2 million worth of cannabis


Police destroy cannabis seized in a major operation across Auckland
More images

Police seize and burn $2 million worth of cannabis in major Auckland sting

Thursday, 6 March 2014 - 1:03pm

National News

Police have seized and destroyed $2 million dollars worth of outdoor cannabis plants in a major operation this week.

Operation Lucy is targeting outdoor-grown cannabis across the wider Auckland region. In this week's recovery phase Police were assisted by the NZ Air Force. An Iroquois Helicopter was used to winch Police officers down into the cannabis plots. (A ten minute video of raw footage including helicopter footage, Police landing in cannabis plots, close-ups of the cannabis and the destruction of the plants is available to media, see below for details.)

More than two thousand cannabis plants were found, seized and destroyed over the past week. The plants were growing in forests, swamps, rivers and rural property and crops were found in a number of different locations, including Port Waikato, Muriwai, Piha, Kaipara Flats, Helensville & Great Barrier Island. Similar recovery operations will be ongoing across Auckland in the coming weeks and months.

Sixteen search warrants have been executed so far across Auckland. At this stage eight people (7 men and 1 woman aged between 29 -58 years old) have been charged with cultivation of cannabis and Police say more arrests are likely.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"This is a great result, some of the plants that we seized had obviously been growing for quite some time and I have no doubt that this has dealt a real blow to the criminal element" says Detective Sergeant Callum McNeill, Head of Operation Lucy.

"The harm that cannabis causes to the wider community can't be underestimated - we know that the supply and abuse of cannabis has a direct influence on crimes like intimidation, burglaries, robberies and serious violence. It leads to innocent people becoming victims of crime. By removing and destroying these plants we hope to prevent this crime from happening in the first place, and the arrests we've made so far should send a message to the criminals who grow and deal in cannabis - you will be caught."

Police staff from Counties Manukau, Waitakere, Rodney, North Shore, Auckland City and Counties Manukau were involved in Operation Lucy, part of which owes it success to information provided by the public.

"Every year, around the time that criminals plant cannabis, we ask the public to tell us about any suspicious behaviour they may see. Part of this week's result owes it's success to the information provided by the community, and a big 'thanks very much' from us to those members of the public who phoned us with info" says Det Sgt McNeill.

"Even though it's getting to the end of the growing season growers are still tending to their plots, and again, anyone who notices something that doesn't look quite right, for example lights in the bush after dark or people in places that you wouldn't expect anyone to be, is encouraged to contact Police or the Crimestoppers organisation anonymously on 0800 555 111."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.