ANNUAL CANNABIS DRIVE POTS 2200 PLANTS

Police recovered some 2200 cannabis plants in their annual drive
around Mid and South Canterbury to find the illegal drug.

The recovery work, which involved crews in helicopters spotting and
retrieving plants, was part of a nationwide police campaign against
cannabis called Operation Emma.

Sergeant Mike Miron, in charge of the Mid-South Canterbury operation,
said today most of the cannabis was in riverbed or scrub areas.

A larger percentage of the plants were found in South Canterbury.

The cannabis recovered ranged from seedlings to mature plants and the
operation took in rivers and scrub areas between the Rakaia and Waitaki Rivers.

Helicopters flew solidly for a week, with at least two days spent in
Mid Canterbury.

Mr Miron said the number of plants recovered was down from 3500 last
year and 4500 in 2004. No patches were booby-trapped to deter
unwanted attention.

He said several known growers were currently serving jail terms, but
police were also targeting people associated with the Class C controlled drug.

All the plants recovered were disposed of by police, who are
continuing their investigations into who was growing them.

The cannabis growing season is far from over, though, and people who
come across plants should contact police in their area.

The information will be treated confidentially.