Cannabis haul outstrips last year

BY ANDREW BOARD

Police have destroyed more than 6000 cannabis plants found growing in the Nelson Bays region.

The helicopter recovery phase of Operation Penny, a six-month cannabis and crime operation, lasted six days and saw police pull in about 400 plants more than last year in Nelson Bays alone.

The total haul was estimated to be worth "well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars", according to the officer in charge of the operation, Detective Sergeant Brett Greer, of Nelson.

"We are really happy with how it's gone, that figure is more than we got last year and we anticipate more to come."

The total number of plants recovered continues to rise daily as ground crews target crops seen from the air but only accessible from the ground. Mr Greer said it would be weeks before the total number of recovered plants was confirmed.

"Every day we are pulling in more from our ground crews and we are also getting members of the public coming in to tell us where plants are and we definitely encourage that."

An estimated 4500 plants were found on the West Coast and 1500 in Marlborough, bringing the total number of plants found in the Tasman policing district, which includes all three areas, to more than 10,200.

The helicopter recovery phase is the most significant part of the operation and involves 32 officers locally.

Mr Greer would not comment on the cost of the aerial phase but said, "It's not a cheap exercise, but we consider it value for money."

Senior Constable Peter Cobeldick and Sergeant Wayne Corbett are a part of the operation and travelled deep into the Tadmor Valley to find several plots yesterday.

"Some are in cages and some in wide open areas but the ones we've seen today are typical for this area," Mr Corbett said.

Mr Cobeldick said he enjoyed the annual roundup.

"You work hard but it's enjoyable and getting a huge amount of dope, as we have, has got to have a positive effect. We feel like we are achieving something. Drugs are a major problem and it's great if we can curb that."

Mr Greer said a number of search warrants had been issued and as a result of the roundup several people had been charged, although he couldn't give a final figure.

The operation would have a significant impact on the drug trade, Mr Greer said.

"It will take a while to filter through but a lot of what we found belonged to commercial growers so this operation should have an impact nationally."

- © Fairfax NZ News