CANNABIS REMAINS NORTHLAND DRUG OF CHOICE, SAY POLICE

Cannabis remains Northland's drug of choice despite the prevalence of
methamphetamine, a senior police officer says.

Inspector Rex Knight said pure methamphetamine, or P, was popular now, but
any police team that ignored cannabis "does so at its peril".

Mr Knight is acting Whangarei and Kaipara area commander, and for the past
4-1/2 years has been Northland road policing manager and operations manager.

On Wednesday he presented a monthly report on Whangarei's crime scene to
the Whangarei District Council.

Mr Knight said that while P was very popular in Northland, there was an
increasing trend back to very large cannabis plantations of very large plants.

"Meth is so corrupt to families and our society, I'm hoping that it may be
a fad, something else will come along."

In Northland, cannabis was still a major problem which led to many other
crimes.

He said police should stay focused on cracking down on cannabis, an area in
which Whangarei police had built up a "very great knowledge".

His report referred to major drugs busts in March arising from an ongoing
Northland-wide operation. Results included:

* the discovery of 20kg of harvested cannabis, live plants, and a stolen
$50,000 digger -- all at one location;

* five "asset seizures" that are being processed as a result of drug
offending carried out by property owners;

* discovery of a large commercial cannabis plot;

* discovery of three methamphetamine labs, two of which he said were
operated by gangs;

* confiscation of at least 30 firearms; and

* Recovery of a $100,000 Scorpion boat.

- - NZPA