Crack down on drugs

BY CARALISE MOORE

Police are determined to stamp out drugs in Rodney.

Another cannabis bust on January 8 saw police haul in 11kg of cannabis worth up to $44,000, and a "reasonable" amount of cash, found near Te Hana.

Acting area commander inspector Keith Brady says the rural property was raided by officers accompanied by the police armed offenders squad.

Three separate cannabis plantations were found with more than 20 plants seized, along with more than 11kg of dried cannabis ready for distribution, and about 200,000 cannabis seeds.

A reasonable sum of cash and seven high-powered air rifles and pistols were recovered, Mr Brady says.

A 41-year-old Rodney man appeared in the North Shore District Court on drugs and firearms charges after the incident.

He is just one of 453 people who police have arrested for drug-related offences in Rodney for the six months ending December 31.

Police say offences included possession of cannabis for personal use, possession of cannabis for supply, possession of instruments for
the use of controlled substances, and possession of precursor substances for the manufacture of methamphetamine, known as P.

The offences have occurred across the Rodney area with 66 and 65 offenders arrested in Orewa and Whangaparaoa respectively.

Properties in Waiwera, Waitoki and Whangaparaoa were searched in November when 60 cannabis plants and 142 grams of dried cannabis were seized. Three people were charged in relation to the raids.

"Rodney is likely to be attractive to the criminal element of society because of their belief that the rural isolation and sparsely populated communities could allow them to grow cannabis or manufacture methamphetamine without interference by the community
and the police," says Mr Brady.

"But there is no evidence available that provides support to the assertion that the Rodney area is any more vulnerable to drug offending than any other part of the country."

Mr Brady says there is a strong connection between drug users and those who commit crime.

"To engage in the use of drugs, a proportion of users will often commit volume crime to feed their drug use.

"Similarly, committing crime is often used to meet the expenses of living the lifestyle criminals lead.

"Volume crime that affects the public are burglaries, theft from cars, theft of motor vehicles, and fraud.

"These types of crimes often lead to more violent crimes such as bagsnatching, robbery and aggravated robbery of dairies, service stations and banks as the offenders attempt to feed their lifestyle or the funding of personal or group drug use, supply or manufacture."

Police and the government have made methamphetamine a priority target.

Mr Brady says police across the Auckland region will be targeting the use, manufacture and supply of the drug and its precursor material, and Rodney police will be part of the targeted enforcement.

"Police do not publicly discuss the operational approach to drug enforcement because it will impact on the advantage police have over the criminal element," says Mr Brady.

"Suffice to say the criminal fraternity can expect Rodney police to strike anywhere at any time in our approach to disrupting their activity."

Rodney police have also been actively assessing drivers for the influence of drugs.

Four drivers have been reported for breaches in Rodney since the introduction of the legislation late last year.

This year police will be routinely gathering intelligence on those involved in the drug trade through the help of the community, information supplied by criminals and confidential informants.

"The community can help immensely by being the eyes and ears for the police within their community and providing us with the vital information we need to disrupt and stop this activity," says Mr Brady.

People can contact Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555-111.

- © Fairfax NZ News