Drugs, guns and 572 arrests

Police have seized and destroyed more than 130,000 cannabis plants and almost 80 kilograms of dried cannabis during this year's National Cannabis and Crime Operation.

The six month long national operation uses helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, with assistance from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, to spot and destroy cannabis crops during the cannabis growing season.


More than 130,000 cannabis plants were seized during Operation Dee.

This year's results for the annual operation are the second highest recovery rate of cannabis in the last nine years.

During the operation 607 searches were conducted which led to a significant number of arrests, firearms seized and stolen property recovered.

Operation Dee, carried out during the 2015-2016 growing season, resulted in:

*Around 132,000 cannabis plants destroyed.

*572 offenders arrested.

*173 firearms seized.

* Estimated $309,966 stolen property recovered.

*80 kilograms of dried cannabis plant material seized / destroyed.

*4 methamphetamine laboratories located and almost one kilogram of methamphetamine seized /destroyed.

*195 ecstasy tabs, 633 LSD tabs and 56 morphine sulphate tabs have also been destroyed.

Officer in charge of the operation Detective Inspector Craig Scott says this is a "whole of crime" operation, primarily targeting those that cultivate and deal cannabis as the gateway drug to other criminal activities.

'Commercial cannabis cultivation cannot be looked at on its own, it has links to much wider crime.

'This year police placed a strong emphasis on seizing the assets gained from drug dealing and assets used to assist and enable the criminal activity.

'As a result of this, there is in excess of $4 million worth of assets currently under investigation or restraint following a court order. This includes land, houses, cash and vehicles.”

A total of 173 firearms were also seized in Operation Dee, which is the largest number seized since the 2011/2012 operation.

Craig says the number of firearms found in possession of people associated with drug dealing is a concern.

'Especially considering a number were identified as being stolen and about 90 per cent of the weapons weren't secured correctly, with ammunition found nearby.

'Operation Dee is an example of police working across all districts in a coordinated approach to combat the illicit drug market.”

Police estimates the operation has prevented in excess of $500 million of socio-economic harm from reaching the community by destroying these 132,000 cannabis plants.

The success of this operation reaffirms the commitment by Police to tackle the ongoing drug issues in our community.

'People in the community and family members are affected by this offending, we encourage people to contact addiction services where necessary, whether it be on behalf of themselves or a Whanau member,” says Craig.

'We can't solve this by ourselves, it comes down to a joint effort from Police and the community.”

Planning for next year's operation has already begun.

Anyone with information about any form of criminal activity, including cannabis cultivation and drug dealing, is encouraged to contact their local police station.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.

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14 comments

Harmless?

Posted on 24-05-2016 07:24 | By Minx

And some people want to legalise cannabis as a drug, I don't think so, hope it never happens!


Minx

Posted on 24-05-2016 09:56 | By Towball

Typical response cannabis was part of only, yes some people do abuse drugs but there are equal and bigger criminal operations that are not given the same acknowledgement or so it would appear. Disregard by legal system that allowed an individual to take another's innocent life and treat majority of cannabis offenders similarly is injustice equally. Not everyone is a consumer grower for profit a few actually reserve the view of use for positivity.


wake up Minx

Posted on 24-05-2016 10:38 | By kurgan

from the hysterical rhetoric rammed down your throat by the corrupt government agencies. Fact: No one has ever die from consuming cannabis, unlike the endless deaths caused by profitable prescription medicine, legal tobacco and alcohol. Cannabis has many beneficial uses for humanity including pure oil extract that can cure cancer. It was the most prescribed drug before the corporate chemical medicine madness began, started by none other than Mr John D. Rockefeller. With the "wonders of modern medicine" we seem to have record numbers of death and disease and record profits for pharmaceutical companies, go figure.


Cleansing Aoteroa

Posted on 24-05-2016 12:19 | By roadkill1234

So many young kids are smoking weed so hopefully this operation helps with that and all the crime associated with drug use. While marijuana is amazing for treating medical conditions it should be prescribed by a medical practitioner, in time I


kurgan

Posted on 24-05-2016 12:24 | By How about this view!

Not sure that your statement "No one has ever die from consuming cannabis" is totally factual. Maybe you mean that nobody that has sat on the sofa at home alone and smoked this depressant drug has died from doing nothing?? I think that there is irrefutable evidence to prove that whilst they may not kill themselves by using illegal drugs they can and often do kill others (And yes the same goes for alcohol, but TWO wrongs don't make it right)


such a narrow minded assumption How about this view!

Posted on 24-05-2016 13:24 | By kurgan

stereotyping all pot users as couch potatoes, I for one have consumed cannabis for the last 38 years, I've never been on the dole, worked at 3 jobs, the current one for 22 years, never committed a violence offence which you suggest "illegal drug" users often do, I think you are confusing pot with that horrible meth crap.


kurgan

Posted on 24-05-2016 15:21 | By How about this view!

Having worked alongside cannabis using spacecadets, I consider myself fortunate that my current employer has a zero tolerance. As I stated, Air-head dope users may not harm themselves but they sure cause issues for others around them. Let's hope that you don't get caught out one day, particularly if someone around you that you care about gets involved in your egotistical activities.


Mmm..Kurgen

Posted on 24-05-2016 17:31 | By maildrop

I wonder if the high incidence of cannabis use in New Zealand is linked to the high road toll? Crossing the centreline seems to be a common occurrence. It is worrying that you are driving around stoned. Saying nobody has ever died from cannabis use is like saying nobody has died from drinking fizzy drinks. The harmful effects are far reaching. As is alcohol misuse and smoking tobacco.


Whats its Value?

Posted on 24-05-2016 20:50 | By Dazed and Confused

If it wasn't illegal what would it be worth ? Really if you could grow it like cabbage what would it be worth?


maildrop

Posted on 25-05-2016 06:26 | By kurgan

You say I drive around stoned, I'd say that's another assumption arrived at by your very stereotypical narrow-mindedness.


How about this view

Posted on 25-05-2016 07:03 | By kurgan

"space cadets", "Air head dope users". No swaying your sad narrow-minded opinion I see. Have a nice obedient conformist life.


Kurgen

Posted on 25-05-2016 07:44 | By maildrop

Yes, I make an assumption based on what you said, and what I know about cannabis. You are driving around stoned. Good for you. And your warped thinking is probably somewhere along the lines of, "I'm fine, in control, not caused an accident....therefore it's ok". Another assumption. It is amazing how people justify their actions.


Police

Posted on 25-05-2016 15:41 | By Kenworthlogger

Cant wait for the NZ police to catch up to their much more advanced Aussie counterparts and start toungue swabbing drivers for drugs. Its about time we got this menace off the road.


Expoliters

Posted on 29-05-2016 19:42 | By mumath

Alcohol is legal! In some cases it destroys families, drink driving, mental abuse the list goes on.. Marijuana is from the earth put here for a reason. Governments expoliting the use of this plant to make money by using it as a medicinal form. That won't be free.


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