Raids uncover cannabis operations

The closure of two Dunedin cannabis operations on Thursday sends a clear message to other growers they could be next, police warn.

In little more than an hour, Dunedin police executed search warrants and swooped on two addresses - a residential property in Brockville at 4.50pm and a commercial premises in Prince Albert Rd, St Kilda, at 6pm.

A 40-year-old unemployed man was arrested by the Dunedin tactical squad on charges of cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis for supply at the first address, after police uncovered cannabis with an estimated street value of $10,000, Acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said.

Police also found 19 eight-week-old cannabis plants - with an estimated street value of $1000 each when fully grown - in bags of soil under growing lights in a partitioned basement area, he said.

In the second case, police arrested a 53-year-old Dunedin man after uncovering a "sophisticated" cannabis operation in a commercial workshop.

Members of the Dunedin organised crime squad located 32 cannabis plants, of which 20 were mature plants.

Police also uncovered 37 cannabis plant cuttings, 1kg of cannabis head, $1595 in cash and a large amount of equipment, he said.

A 53-year-old engineer appeared in Dunedin District Court yesterday on indictably-laid charges of cultivation of cannabis and possession of cannabis for supply. He has been remanded on bail to July 2.

Sgt McLellan said the two arrests were another successful result for police and "it sends a clear message to other cannabis growers we intend to investigate this type of criminal offending".

- hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

 

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