$1.5m cannabis bust

Police who carried out a drugs raid on a house near Motueka on New Year's Eve couldn't believe their eyes.

The two-bedroom property was filled with more than 1500 cannabis plants, with a potential value of $1.5 million.

Motueka police described it as one of the biggest indoor cannabis-growing operations they had busted.

The house in Westbank Road had plants in each room, including the kitchen and bathroom, and was aided by a sophisticated lighting and watering set-up, Police Sergeant Robert Crawford told The Nelson Mail.

The house owner was out when police searched the property at 11am, but was arrested later that day. He is due to appear in Nelson District Court on January 12.

- NZPA