Ringleaders of a Buller cannabis ring obtained methamphetamine and ecstasy for their workforce during a busy time of the cannabis year, police have told a West Coast court.
At the Westport District Court yesterday 15 defendants faced a depositions hearing in connection with a 14 month police operation and raid on a group of growers and sellers of cannabis in Buller.
The charges cover the period October 1 2006 to December 12 2008.
Crown Prosecutor Kerryn Beaton told the court Shane Saunders, Blair Colligan and Carl Grant had assembled what was effectively a workforce to help them grow and prepare cannabis for sale, during at least two growing seasons.
The other defendants worked on various parts of the cannabis production process, including propagating plants, drying mature plants and trimming the cannabis for sale.
Ecstasy and methamphetamine were obtained for those involved with trimming, Ms Beaton said.
Saunders, 38, of Cape Foulwind, faces 21 charges, including, cultivating, conspiring to cultivate, offering to supply, and selling cannabis; conspiring to supply ecstasy and methamphetamine.
Grant, 39, of Westport, faces 12 charges, including cultivating, conspiring to cultivate, and supplying cannabis, conspiring to supply ecstasy, possessing a firearm (while cultivating cannabis), conspiring to supply methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Colligan, 28, Waimangaroa, faces 12 charges, including cultivating, conspiring to cultivate and supply cannabis, supplying a firearm, selling cannabis, conspiring to sell methamphetamine, conspiring to sell ecstasy, possession of cannabis for sale.
Ms Beaton said one of the accused, David Granville Low, 50, who pleaded guilty last month, had admitted selling cannabis to an undercover officer.
Low admitted 10 charges relating to possession, cultivation, supply and selling. He and his partner Mark Reginald Rapley, 51, were last month remanded to the Christchurch High Court for sentencing on July 14.
Ms Beaton said more than 70 police witnesses would give evidence in the next two weeks.
The other defendants are: Bryan Murray Russell Anderson, 40, painter, Nelson, 12 charges, including conspiring to cultivate cannabis, selling ecstasy, selling cannabis, possession of a sawn-off shotgun, producing cannabis oil, and possession of equipment associated with the production of drugs.
Kylee Leila Duggan, 34, unemployed, Westport, a single charge of conspiring to sell cannabis.
Peter John Cain, 46, Waimangaroa, a single charge of conspiring to cultivate cannabis.
Shaun James Larking, 25, farm manager, Waimangaroa, three charges, of conspiring to cultivate, cultivating, and selling cannabis.
Maria Dawn O Brien, 35, Nelson, unemployed, five charges, including offering to supply cannabis oil, conspiring to sell cannabis, and selling cannabis.
Natasha Ann Peek, 30, cleaner, Westport, two charges, of conspiring to sell, and conspiring to cultivate cannabis.
Robina Shaw Saunders, 60, Westport, three charges two of selling, and one of possessing cannabis for sale.
Bevan Patrick Tetai, 30, operator, Cape Foulwind, four charges, including conspiring to cultivate and sell cannabis.
Joseph Thomas Tobin, 54, seaman, Porirua, three charges, including conspiring to supply ecstasy and methamphetamine.
Merehana Marina Wihongi, 29, Waimangaroa, possession of cannabis for selling, and possession of methamphetamine.
Paul Laidlaw, 46, carpenter, Glentunnel, three charges - cultivating, conspiring to cultivate and conspiring to sell cannabis, all in Darfield.
Wayne Saunders, 40, manager, Christchurch, a single charge of conspiring to sell cannabis.
The court was told Dion Edwin Peehikuru Fox, 24, a farmer of Wesport, accused of conspiring to cultivate cannabis, had had his case transferred to Christchurch. No reason was given.