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Anonymous tip leads to Whangarei cannabis haul

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Mon, 15 Aug 2011 3:20p.m.

The plants were at various stages of growth (file)

The plants were at various stages of growth (file)

Police have found more than 400 cannabis plants hidden in three shipping containers on a Whangarei property after an anonymous call to tipoff line 0800 CRIMESTOPPERS.

Three hundred and seventy mature plants and 70 seedlings and clone plants found in the containers.

Two of the shipping containers were buried underground, while the third was above ground near a boundary fence.

The plants were at various stages of growth, and the containers also contained tools associated with the cannabis cultivation.

Police have arrested a 45-year-old man and charged him with cannabis cultivation after the seizure. Police searched another Whangarei address belonging to the man, finding four unsecured firearms and ammunition.

Detective Sergeant Mike Blowers of the police Organised Crime Unit says the discovery came after a tipoff was phoned in to the anonymous line by a member of the public, and is urging anybody with information on criminal activity to follow suit.

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Comments

16 Aug 2011 06:56p.m.

Brett wrote:

Once upon a time alcohol was illegal, now you can buy it in supermarkets etc and even though you can buy it, you can also brew it at home.

Cannabis would be the same if it were made legal. You'll still get people growing it at home.

16 Aug 2011 03:00a.m.

Jillian Galloway wrote:

That sure is a lot of weed to find after all the money we've spent trying to eradicate cannabis over the last few decades. It sounds like the cannabis prohibition doesn't work! We need to control cannabis like beer and wine and allow our supermarkets to sell it to adults. That's the *only* way to eliminate illegal grows like this.

15 Aug 2011 05:42p.m.

James wrote:

It will make no difference, just like the last 40 years have made no difference, you can still buy the stuff as always, its also still highly profitable for gangs and such thanks to our silly laws. Really sheese its hardly news worth reporting.