An annual police operation targeting cannabis growers on the West Coast has resulted in the arrest of 13 people and the recovery of 5200 plants, including a number of "potent" varieties.
Police estimated a mature plant had a street value of about $1000, but noted that some plantings this year
were a particularly potent cultivar heavily laden with flowering tops on female plants - which usually contain the highest levels of THC, making them much more valuable.
The haul was down 42 per cent on last year, when about 9000 plants were found, but Hokitika police sergeant Russell Glue, the operation's chief officer, said that was expected after an alleged multimillion-dollar drug syndicate was busted before Christmas at Buller.
"I'm pretty happy with what we recovered - a little surprised that we got so much," he said.
The week-long operation involved 19 police and 11 Air Force personnel, plus an Iroquois helicopter that flew between Karamea, Hari Hari and Springs Junction.
Mr Glue said he was unable to reveal how much the operation cost, but the Westport News reported the helicopter cost about $1500 an hour to run - equivalent to $67,000 for the round-up.
The arrests and drug seizures were evenly spread throughout the coast, he said, with most involving class B (cannabis oil) and class C drugs such as cannabis. The most serious charge related to the possession of a small amount of LSD, in Greymouth. The seized cannabis was destroyed.
- NZPA
