POLICE HOPE FEWER CANNABIS PLANTS SIGNALS SUCCESS

Central District police believe a significant dent has been made in
the region's cannabis trade, despite the seizure of about 3000 fewer
plants during this year's drug recovery operation.

Between October last year and March this year, a total of 6374
cannabis plants were seized in the Central District - a drop from the
9369 plants seized last year and 11,047 the year before.

The aerial operation, in which air force Iroquois helicopters are
used to spot and collect the cannabis, netted 4311 plants.

The Taranaki and Whanganui areas each had 1286 plants, while Manawatu
and Ruapehu had 1173 and 566 plants respectively.

The remaining 2063 plants were captured during search warrants
throughout the district, some of which involved surveillance of
properties, and the use of the armed offenders squad and special
tactics group members.

Operation co-ordinator Senior Constable Dave Kirk said the reduction
could be the result of many factors, including fewer plants being
grown, poor growing conditions or the inability to find the plants.

"We've managed to get some pretty good results over the last several
years," he said.

"They can't keep sustaining the losses we are putting on them."

There was some initial disappointment at the smaller haul, but Mr
Kirk said the downward trend was a nationwide occurrence.

He would wait to see next year's results before making a final
judgment on this year's operation.

"One year doesn't make a trend," he said.

"At some stage we'd like to think we are making some headway with
these buggers. If we are not getting the numbers, we must be [making
headway] or we're not finding it."

The operation uncovered 92 plots and 129 people are now facing 330
criminal charges.

Property worth $5800 was seized, including seven rifles, two
shotguns, two handguns, 8421 cannabis seeds and 14.1kg of dried cannabis.

Another noticeable trend was the use of smaller plots, he said.

"If this is an attempt to try and go under the radar and outsmart us,
it hasn't worked. We have still found the plants and will continue to
keep one step ahead of those who think it is acceptable to make money
out of drugs and misery."

One of the largest plots was found northwest of Waitotara, between
Waverley and Whanganui, where police found 202 plants.

An Ashhurst man, 46, has appeared in the Whanganui District Court
charged with cultivation of cannabis in relation to the Waitotara crop.

Mr Kirk appealed for anyone who came across cannabis to contact police.