Drugs link highlighted

A large cannabis operation in Wellington recently netted in excess of $100,000 worth of plant and resin, and resulted in 21 arrests to date.

Detective Sergeant Sean Hansen of Wellington’s Organised Crime Unit, says there are more arrests pending following the investigation, which involved 60 staff at its termination last month. Six key offenders face 34 charges between them, involving a total of 80 informations. Charges include methamphetamine possession, producing cannabis resin, cultivation/supply of cannabis, firearms offences and money laundering.

Two of the offenders were directors of a hydroponics company, and as well as charging them individually, police have also charged the company with a number of drug-related offences. A restraining order has been placed on the business, a residential property and bank accounts. A number of houses in several Wellington suburbs were also searched and more than 10kg of dried material discovered.

“ This wasn’t a little operation. They were allegedly making hundreds of thousands of dollars through cannabis and related equipment.”

Sean says he is pleased with the operation’s outcome, which also highlighted links between cannabis and methamphetamine.

A pre-depositions date has been set for early August.