Undercover cops bust huge cannabis growing ring

Police

SEIZED: Operation Lime has targeted businesses and individuals responsible for the commercial sale of equipment used in the growing of cannabis.

Massive cannabis operation busted

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A massive undercover cannabis operation netting more than 250 suspects on 750 charges will break the cornerstone of the industry, police say.

Police this morning swooped on 35 businesses and numerous residential addresses throughout the country as search warrants were executed as part of 'Operation Lime'.

The two year operation targeted businesses and individuals responsible for the commercial sale of equipment used in the growing of cannabis.

Those arrested have appeared in district courts around the country today, police said.

The search warrants included 16 branches and the distribution centre of a major national supplier of indoor growing supplies, understood to be Switched on Gardener.

More than 250 offenders face more than 750 charges which were laid against employees, managers and directors of the companies and growers involved, police said in a statement this afternoon.

Over 100 commercial cannabis growing operations linked to the businesses were also found and dismantled during the operation. A further 19 have been discovered today so far.

Police also seized methamphetamine, LSD, ecstasy and firearms.

Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope said today's arrests would "break the cornerstone of the illicit cannabis cultivation industry".

Directors and managers of the companies had been arrested and would be facing charges including cultivating cannabis and participating in an organised criminal group.

He said undercover officers had purchased equipment, were given advice on how to grow cannabis, and even purchased cannabis clones and other drugs over the counter from these offenders.

"Businesses have been committing these offences and supporting commercial cannabis growers and organised crime over a long period of time."

TradeMe today also banned the trading of equipment that could be used in the cultivation of cannabis.

TradeMe trust and safety manager Chris Budge said police had asked the online auction website to disable three memberships, which had been done today. The three members had been arrested as part of today's police swoop.
 
He said some products sold on TradeMe were not necessarily easily identified as being linked to the cultivation of marijuana, citing a product called "Budzilla". This had been marketed as being good for growing vegetables.
 
It was not one of the products sold by members included in today's ban, which he could not specifically name. The banned members had likely sold products that could be used as a precursor to cannabis production, but staff had not been aware of the sales due to the thousands of listings on the site, he said.
 
He said TradeMe would "sharpen" its key list of words that would help staff identify products being sold on the site that could be used in the cultivation of cannabis.

Mr Pope said that suppliers of illicit equipment to growers would continue to be targeted.  "Criminals buying equipment for their cannabis grows were observed and followed.  If people purchase these products for illegal purposes, they can expect to receive a visit from the Police."

Proceedings would also be commenced under the new Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 to strip criminals of money and assets, he said.

Honest suppliers of equipment to genuine gardeners were not targeted in the operation, he said.

Police Minister Judith Collins has tonight congratulated police.

Mrs Collins said today's arrests would send a strong message to those who tried to produce drugs in New Zealand that they would be caught.

"The message to those who manufacture and sell drugs in our community is that the Government and the police are determined to shut down your activities, and will use every tool at their disposal to do so," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News