Police destroy around 360 cannabis plants in an Ōtāhuhu warehouse
Police destroyed around 360 cannabis plants found under 15 tents in a Queen Street warehouse in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland. The search warrant was executed on Thursday, 14 May 2026, after an electrician reported unusual wiring, ventilation pipes and a cannabis smell.
An electrician working nearby noticed unusual wiring, ventilation pipes and a cannabis smell coming from a warehouse on Queen Street in Ōtāhuhu.[1][2]Police received the information on Wednesday afternoon, put a scene guard in place, then executed a search warrant on Thursday.[1]
Police said the wiring and ventilation pipes signalled possible illegal activity before the smell confirmed a cannabis growing operation to the electrician.[1][2]
Inside, officers found around 360 cannabis plants under 15 tents; Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward of Counties Manukau West CIB said that police had destroyed the plants.[1][2]No occupants were inside when police searched the warehouse.[1][2]
The police release credited the electrician for reporting the suspicious setup.[1]1News described the site as a large commercial grow house one road from the suburb’s main street.[2]The New Zealand Police release was published on Friday, 15 May 2026, and gives Thursday as the search date.[1]
Photos and video
Cannabis plants under growing lights inside the Ōtāhuhu warehouse.Photo details
Police announced on 25 September 2025 that a month-long operation in Auckland had shut 120 cannabis grow houses, destroyed more than 11,000 plants and seized more than 10 tonnes of cannabis. Thirty people were arrested, most Vietnamese nationals facing deportation, and police put the black-market value at more than NZ$50 million.
New Zealand police seized more than 34,000 cannabis plants and 79 kg of dried cannabis, together valued at about $95 million, in the summer national aerial eradication operation, with results announced 6 May 2022. Officers ran 123 searches, seizing 80 firearms and dismantling 24 indoor commercial grows.
Police destroyed 16,307 cannabis plants in Northland during Operation Jess, run from mid-January to mid-March 2018, the highest district tally in that year's national eradication programme. Officers also seized dried cannabis, firearms, cash and stolen property.
New Zealand Police destroyed about 132,000 cannabis plants and seized almost 80 kg of dried cannabis during the six-month National Cannabis and Crime Operation over the 2015-16 growing season. Officers arrested 572 people and seized 173 firearms, four methamphetamine labs and other drugs in what police called a whole-of-crime campaign.
Arrested 572Plants destroyed 132,000Cannabis 80 kg