This is the season for outdoor cannabis growing, and Southern District police are calling for landowners to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity that could be related to the plant's cultivation.
Organised Crime Group Detective Regan Boucher said the outdoor cultivation season was usually between November when planting takes place, and March when crops are harvested.
"Cannabis cultivation is a widespread problem throughout the Southern region.
"Gangs and other organised criminal groups continue to be linked to the cultivation and distribution of cannabis in Southland and Otago.
"Cannabis is often grown on rural properties - on forestry blocks or farmland - and criminal growers frequently also get involved in associated illegal activity, such as stock poaching or property thefts."
Det Boucher said it was not solely the cultivation of cannabis that was the issue. Rather, it was the negative impact the accompanying illegal activities had on the community.
Police were interested in vehicle registration numbers, descriptions of occupants, and the location of suspicious activity, Det Boucher said.
