Diners unaware drug den above

GUILTY: Raymond Ng, owner of the Beijing restaurant and takeaway, when he appeared in the Whanganui District Court yesterday. Photo / Bevan Conley

A cannabis-growing and drying operation in a central Wanganui restaurant was so sophisticated no one in the building could smell the plants.

People dined at the Beijing Chinese restaurant oblivious to a secret drug operation hidden above the toilets. But on the morning of September 6, a police raid uncovered a "large, sophisticated" growing operation in the attic, where more than 200 cannabis plants were in varying stages of growth.

Police originally cut a manhole in the ceiling of the women's toilets before finding a ladder in the men's toilets leading to two growing rooms and a drying room.

Yesterday, Raymond Ng, 54, owner of the Beijing, pleaded guilty in the Whanganui District Court to possessing cannabis, cultivating cannabis for supply and possessing a firearm without a licence.

The police summary of facts stated "a lot of preparation and time had been spent" in developing the operation above the restaurant on the corner of St Hill St and Maria Place.

This included polythene put on the walls to reflect the light, heat shields, and an "elaborate" system of ducts and extraction fans to remove cannabis odour.

Officers were unable to smell the plants in any part of the premises because of the system.

When police raided Ng's home they found a bag of trimmed cannabis branches in a rubbish bin and a .22 bolt-action rifle in an unlocked wardrobe.

Ng told police he was the only one responsible; his wife, family and staff knew nothing about it. He admitted owning the rifle for "numerous" years and said he had failed to renew his licence.

He declined to comment on the 77.5g of cannabis head material found drying in a restaurant oven on a low heat. The summary said this material had a street value of $600 to $850.

Counsel Roger Crowley asked for a pre-sentence report, while Ng said nothing during yesterday's appearance.

Judge David Cameron remanded him on bail to reappear for sentencing on December 23.