POLICE FORECAST RECORD POT CROP

Northland's cash crop cannabis looks set for a bumper season with two
plots discovered by trampers near Whangarei.

The plots were well developed and covered in netting to protect them
from pests.

The latest cannabis find confirms the drug's popularity has not waned
despite the burgeoning methamphetamine trade.

Head of the Northland police organised-crime squad, Detective
Sergeant Grant Smith, expected to find and seize a record number of
cannabis plants this growing season.

"Over the past five years, cannabis-plant seizures have been steadily
increasing. Cannabis is still the base funding for other drug and
criminal offending," he said.

There was a trend back to larger, more commercial crops in Northland
with police discovering a plot with nearly 1000 plants near Kaitaia
earlier this year.

Outdoor plots with between 300 and 500 plants were common in the
region, Mr Smith said.

Trampers in the Whanui Conservation Area, about 10km northeast of
Whangarei, found two plots of what police described as "skunk" plants.

Detective Constable Andrew Glendinning of Whangarei police said the
plots of 25 plants each were well-developed and had been cultivated
and covered in netting to keep out goats and possums.

Skunk plants are smaller than the more traditional strains of
cannabis but are highly potent.

"Standing amongst them you could certainly smell it," Mr Glendinning said.

He praised the trampers who had discretely marked the track near the
plot and took pictures of identifiable trees in the area to help
police locate the cannabis.

The plants appeared to have been topped but there had not been any
recent activity in the plots.

He urged those who discovered plots or noticed suspicious behaviour
to report it via a dedicated drug telephone line.

Mr Glendinning said people finding cannabis plots should be wary of
cyanide laid nearby to kill possums and rodents. It was rare to find
booby-trapped plots, but there were cases of fish hooks used as a
deterrent to those who might decide to take the cannabis themselves.

At this time of the year plants were reaching maturity and because of
the excellent growing conditions there was potential for two crops to
be harvested this season.

Police also want to hear about suspicious behaviour that could be
linked to the making of methamphetamine, also known as P.

[sidebar]

LOOK FOR:

. stolen electric fencing from rural locations used to keep animals out of cannabis plots

. stolen black piping used for irrigating cannabis plots

. cars regularly parked on the side of the road in rural places

. blacked-out windows of houses or sheds pungent smells associated with hydroponic cannabis production

. Ring 0800 BAN DRUGS (0800 226 3784). Calls are free and can be anonymous.