A Te Puke builder was caught in a forest harvesting a dope crop which police say could have sold for more than $130,000.
Howard Scott Hawes, 48, had meticulously prepared an area the hillside for drying and manicuring the cannabis.
Harvested cannabis branches were hung between trees to dry. The area was north-facing
and tree branches had been pruned to open the bush canopy to allow full sunshine on to the hanging cannabis.
Hawes had placed a large tarpaulin on the ground and he and two alleged associates worked throughout the day clipping the cannabis head from the branches.
Also carried into the area were numerous plastic rubbish bags to place the manicured cannabis into.
Hawes yesterday appeared in Tauranga District Court an plead guilty to a charge of possession of cannabis for supply. He was bailed because is due will be undergoing surgery next week.
Judge Christopher Harding told Hawes that he should arrange his affairs in anticipation of a jail term when he was sentenced on September 21.
The court was told that on April 23 Hawes and two alleged associates were in Kaingaroa Forrest about 50km southeast of Rotorua.
Hawes had earlier parked his vehicle off a track in the bush and walked from State Highway 5 about 200m along a disused vehicle track to the cleared area.
About 1pm on April 23, police who had travelled into the area, located the trio at work. One of Hawes' associates ran from the scene when police arrived.
Hawes had a pair of gardening secateurs in his trouser pocket and he and his other associate both had green fingertips.
Hawes declined to make a formal statement, however he admitted the cannabis was his.
He said he had travelled to the area the week before to harvest and hang the cannabis to dry.
Hawes said his associates were helping him harvest the crop and he had been going to give them some dope for their assistance.
A local drug expert confirmed the 8.5kg of partially manicured cannabis head and 21.4kg of unprocessed cannabis still attached to small branches and stalks recovered from the scene was good quality.
Police said cannabis head currently sells for between $3000 and $3500 a pound
.
Police estimated Hawes could have sold the crop for between $112,500 and $131,250.
