A huge Auckland cannabis bust has led to the arrests of 30 people, 10 tonnes of the drug being destroyed, and 120 grow houses shut down.
The investigation, which took place between late July and August, saw police search 128 properties nestled in suburban and rural communities.
Police said the houses were “hidden in plain sight” and appeared to be “average-looking” rentals. Some of the properties were found in areas like Pōkeno in the south, Pakuranga in the east, Henderson in the west and Torbay in the north.
Police said the houses were “hidden in plain sight” and appeared to be “average-looking” rentals. (Source: Supplied)
Police found $12,000 in cash and destroyed more than 11,000 plants, arresting 30 – most of them Vietnamese nationals who were now going through the deportation process.
“So much cannabis was destroyed, four trucks were required a week to cart away cannabis discovered in Waitematā district alone,” Detective Inspector Callum McNeill said.
Officers from the Waitematā district carried out a two-week sting as part of the operation, locating more than nine tonnes of cannabis.
Operations targeting grow houses also took place across the Auckland City and Counties Manukau districts.
In Penrose, over half a tonne of cannabis was found at a warehouse.
Watch: Auckland police seize 10 tonnes of cannabis in dramatic busts – Watch on TVNZ+
Police in Manukau destroyed more than 140 kilograms of cannabis and 4200 plants.
McNeill said the busts had denied organised criminals a payday of more than $50 million.
“This is not just a small group of cannabis plants located but instead would have gone on to fund a range of organised criminal activities in our communities.”
McNeill said grow houses linked to Vietnamese organised criminals had increasingly caught the attention of law enforcement in recent years.
Police said 97 grow houses had been found by police in Auckland during 2024. In the first six months of this year, police had already busted 90.
McNeill said the properties were also creating danger for those who lived nearby.
“We know these rental properties are often fitted out with shoddy electrical wiring, fuelled by stolen power which is diverted from other properties.
“It’s not only illegal but poses very real dangers to those operating the grow houses and innocent members of the community.”
He said police had, in “many instances”, been called to house fires where evidence of a grow operation was found.
Advice for landlords
Police were working with the rental sector to target and prevent grow operations from starting.
McNeill said landlords needed to pay attention, as they could risk not getting an insurance payout.
“Landlords, need to remember they have obligations to carry out due diligence on prospective tenants.
“If tenants move in and turn your house into a growing operation, you risk being liable in the event of a fire or significant damage.
“It’s unfortunate that we are finding in many cases private landlords are not carrying out basic checks before or during tenancies.”
Police recommend that landlords carry out reference checks, meet tenants face-to-face, verify IDs, and conduct credit and income verifications.
He also urged them to carry out regular inspections of their properties.
“Be aware if tenants have a preference to pay rent in cash or offer to pay more to avoid inspections,” he said.
Police urged anyone suspicious of an address to call 105.
“We also advise people that if they come across a cannabis grow house, not to enter or touch any equipment, instead alert authorities so the area can be made safe.”
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