BOP Police arrest eight people as part of major, national drug operation

Bay of Plenty Police today arrested eight people who will face a total of 50 drug-related charges, as part of a national operation targeting the commercial sale of equipment to be used for growing cannabis. Seven people were arrested in Western Bay of Plenty, with one person was arrested in Taupo.

The arrests were made in Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Taupo, after search warrants were executed at three commercial businesses and eight private addresses – seven of those in Tauranga.

Two significant indoor growing operations were found from today's warrants, including a major three room operation located in a house in Brookfield, Tauranga. They were considered significant both due to the sophisticated setup of equipment, as well as the quantity and quality of plants discovered. A total of four operational indoor growing setups were discovered.

The eight arrested people face a variety of drugs charges, including the supply of cannabis and the supply of cannabis-cultivating equipment. They were due to appear in the Tauranga and Taupo District Courts today or tomorrow. Six of those arrested were employed at businesses engaged in the sale of equipment for the growing of cannabis.

No Armed Offenders Squad support was used at any of the search warrants.

Today's arrests in the Bay of Plenty are the culmination of a two-year national undercover Police operation, code-named 'Operation Lime'.

The Officer in Charge of Organised Crime for the Bay of Plenty Police District, Detective Senior Sergeant Lindsay Pilbrow, says the focus of the operation was to target commercial businesses selling equipment to be used for growing cannabis.

He says nationally, 16 branches and a distribution centre of a major national supplier of indoor growing supplies were targeted and people arrested as part of the operation. That chain included two commercial outlets in the Bay of Plenty – one in Tauranga and one in Taupo. Detective Senior Sergeant Pilbrow says a third, independent indoor growing supplies store was also identified and targeted in Mt Maunganui.

Proceedings will also be commenced under the new Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 to strip criminals of money and assets.

"Quite frankly, the arrests today in the Bay of Plenty – and nationally – will go a long way towards disrupting the illicit cannabis cultivation industry in our communities," says Detective Senior Sergeant Pilbrow.

"Cannabis is the most abused controlled drug in New Zealand and its harm can be conservatively estimated at $340 million every year.

"Cannabis is a problem in our community, just as it is in every community across New Zealand. The consequences are harmful, but the impacts are far wider than the individual user and often translate into other areas of crime such as burglary, stolen property and violence.
"As we indicated following our major drug operation in February, our District approach is about targeting organised crime. This is also a national focus.

"Largely, cannabis is grown and distributed by organised criminals, who simply see it as a way of making money. As you can see, there are also commercial businesses who are very much involved in the industry. This operation was about targeting these groups."

Detective Senior Sergeant Pilbrow says undercover officers purchased equipment, were given advice on how to grow cannabis and were even able to purchase cannabis and other drugs over the counter at these businesses.

He says the Police focus on organised crime and the cannabis industry will continue.

"As I said in February, organised criminal groups can expect further pressure and warrants to continue throughout the year. This is just the next round.

"We will continue to place a heavy focus on organised crime around the supply and distribution of illicit drugs. In short, if you are involved in organised crime, you will be targeted and you will be caught.”