A cannabis plantation in Northland was so big it could be seen from a plane.
A cannabis plantation in Northland was so big it could be seen from a plane.
Police detected a large outdoor cannabis operation in Northland from a plane during their annual drug recovery operation, a jury has heard.
The trial of a man accused of growing the illegal plants started in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.
The man, who has name suppression during his trial, facesone charge of cultivating cannabis and one of possessing cannabis for supply.
Crown prosecutor Richard Annandale said the discovery of three plots of land with cannabis plants was made by police Sergeant Mark Andrews from a fixed-wing aircraft on March 24, 2013.
The first plot was discovered in a swampy area and contained 57 plants, 409 cannabis stems and inside a makeshift dry room, covered by a tarpaulin, they found bags of cannabis leaves and stalks, he said.
A further two plots with 121 cannabis plants had been located in pine trees and blackberries. A police team on the ground was informed and officers arrested the accused from his home and laid the two charges.
The trial before Judge Josephine Bouchier continues.
