Wellington police have broken up a commercial cannabis growing and dealing network across the lower North Island, arresting eleven people aged from 20 to 68.[1] Under Operation Yesterday, officers executed fourteen search warrants in Wellington, Porirua, Manukau, Peka Peka and Whanganui.[1] Those arrested face charges including cultivating cannabis and possessing and selling it for supply, and were due in courts over the following days.[1]
Officers found cannabis growing at five addresses, including a whole house in Whanganui set up solely for cultivation with more than 200 plants.[1] They also searched an industrial-sized shed in Whanganui bought by the group and being fitted out for growing, and seized large amounts of dried cannabis and cash at other addresses.[1] Police said the network had sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of cannabis over several years.[1]
Police said the group imported cannabis seeds from Europe and LED grow lights from China, and would work with Customs to block such imports.[1] One alleged ringleader was also arrested on old warrants over serious family-violence charges from two Wellington home invasions nearly ten years earlier, having used false identities to avoid arrest.[1] Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch, who led the drug squad operation, warned commercial growers that police would keep targeting the trade.[1]
