Police 'offered joint' during drugs raid

A suspected member of an alleged multimillion-dollar cannabis-dealing ring invited police to have a joint when arrested, a court has heard.

Fifteen people face charges following a major drug bust in Buller last year.

The charges mainly relate to the cultivation and sale of cannabis between October 2007 and December 2008.

Two justices of the peace have been hearing depositions in the Westport District Court.

Yesterday, Detective Duncan Bull described the arrest of Carl Robert Grant, 39, at his Westport home on December 8.

"As I read his rights he shouted `Who doesn't grow dope around here?'," Bull said.

A number of cannabis plants were found in the back garden, and Bull said he found cannabis when he searched Grant's pockets.

"He said `You can have that as well, why don't you have a joint with us?'," Bull alleged.

The court was told Grant allegedly cultivated and sold cannabis, along with co-accused Blair Mathew Colligan, 28, of Waimangaroa, and Shane David Saunders, 38, of Cape Foulwind.

Local contacts allegedly helped grow, prepare and sell the drug, and there were supply links to Nelson, Canterbury and Wellington.

Among the accused are Paul Laidlaw, 46, of Glentunnel, and Wayne Saunders, 40, of Hornby.

Police told the hearing they placed wiretaps on cellphones and landlines used by the defendants, as well as using an undercover officer to buy cannabis.

They carried out covert property searches during the operation, codenamed Marvel. Two farms in north Buller were searched.

About 150 cannabis plants were allegedly found growing in bush. A further 80 plants and 32 seedlings were allegedly found in a house in Denniston, north of Westport.

Depositions are expected to continue for the rest of the week.