Northland police destroyed 16,307 cannabis plants during Operation Jess, which ran in Northland from mid-January to mid-March 2018.[1] That was more plants than in any other district in the New Zealand Police 2018 national eradication programme, keeping Northland the country’s cannabis capital.[1]
Officers also seized 6.9 kg of dried cannabis, 24.95 grams of methamphetamine, nine firearms, $11,675 in cash and $193,000 of stolen property, including a truck, trailer, digger and stolen cars.[1] Twenty-seven warrants were issued and 59 searches carried out, uncovering several commercial-scale indoor grows, the biggest holding 293 plants in a shed near Kaitaia.[1] Meth charges were laid, and five cases were referred to child services.[1]
Nationally, police said they had concluded the annual cannabis and related-crime operation that March, reporting 205 arrests, 85 recovered firearms and $418,903,408 in prevented social harm.[2] Cannabis was a key part of the operation alongside burglary, theft and firearms offending, with Defence Force helicopter support.[2]
