Timaru teenager charged with cannabis supply after $54,000 found in shoebox
Police found $54,000 in a shoebox when they stopped an 18-year-old's car on Theodosia Street in Timaru, and a search of his home turned up more cash and a small amount of drugs. The Christchurch teenager appeared in the Timaru District Court the same day charged with supply and possession for supply of cannabis, and was remanded on bail until 1 December.
🇳🇿 Theodosia Street, Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand
An 18-year-old is facing cannabis charges after Timaru police found $54,000
inside a shoebox in his car.[1]Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons said
the teenager’s car was stopped at 12.20am on Theodosia Street, where the money
was found.[1][2]
More cash and a small amount of drugs were found at the teenager’s home.[1][2]He
appeared in the Timaru District Court the same day, charged with possessing
cannabis for supply.[1]Police said the 18-year-old, from Christchurch, faced
charges of supply and possession for supply of cannabis.[3][4][2]He was remanded on
bail and is due to reappear on 1 December.[3][2]
Police said the first vehicle was stopped at approximately 12.20am on Theodosia
Street in Timaru, where they discovered more than $54,000 in a shoebox.[3][4][2]
In a separate incident hours later, police pulled over a vehicle in the
Christchurch suburb of Aranui and seized nearly 20 grams of methamphetamine,
$27,000, scales and drug utensils.[3]A 42-year-old Christchurch man was
charged with possession for supply of methamphetamine, and a 41-year-old man was
arrested over a breach of release conditions.[3]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Arrested
1
Charged
1
Value (official estimate)
NZD 54,000
Agency
New Zealand Police
Agency type
Police
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis
Activity
Possession, Sale, Money and assets
Setting
Vehicle, Home
Charges
supply of cannabis; possession for supply of cannabis
Case stage
Charged
Force
No force reported
Region
Canterbury
Sources
RNZrnz.co.nzTimaru teenager facing cannabis charges after $54k found in shoebox
No weight or plant count for the cannabis was published; the reports describe only a small amount of drugs found at the home.
The $54,000 is cash found in the car, not a confirmed cannabis price, and no amount is given for the cash found at the home.
The reports do not say what led police to stop the car, or whether the cash was seized under proceeds-of-crime powers.
No plea, trial date or sentencing outcome was reported; the next appearance is listed as 1 December 2026.
The separate Aranui methamphetamine arrest reported in the same police release involves no cannabis and is not part of this report.
The RNZ account, the Mirage News reprint and the police release all rest on the same Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons statement, so they are not independent reporting.
A three-month operation ended with search warrants at two New Plymouth properties, six arrests and the seizure of cash, cannabis, methamphetamine, a rifle and a homemade taser. A 27-year-old woman faces cannabis supply charges and was remanded until 29 October.
A 37-year-old man was charged with importing Class A and Class C controlled drugs, alleged to be methamphetamine and cannabis, after Cook Islands Customs officers detected the drugs at the Aitutaki International Wharf on 14 April 2026. Customs and police issued a joint statement on the case.
Cook Islands Police arrested a 36-year-old man at Rarotonga International Airport after Customs found more than a kilogram of cannabis in two packages in his luggage. He was remanded in custody after a court appearance on the Saturday, 22 November 2025.
A 50-year-old New Zealand tourist was detained at Rarotonga Airport after customs found a concealed bag of cannabis and two bags of white powder on him, and he was remanded in prison. Police said he was to appear in court on 24 July 2025.
