UNDERCOVER STING NETS 700 CANNABIS PLANTS

About 700 cannabis plants have been seized by police in Mid
Canterbury, following a four-month operation throughout the district
and South Canterbury.

More than 20 people will face charges after around 4500 cannabis
plants were located during Operation Ella, which has been running
since last November between the Waitaki and Rakaia rivers.

Timaru sergeant Mark Offen said seven air force personnel, 12 police
staff and an Iroquois helicopter were involved in the operations,
which also found several large plots at Mackenzie Pass, near the
Waitaki River and Waimate.

He said most of the plots were located in riverbeds.

"There will be some very disappointed people when they go back and see
they are gone," Mr Offen said.

Recent rain appeared to have been as good for cannabis as it had been
for other crops, with some plants up to 1.8 metres tall, he said. Most
growers appeared to be individuals rather than gangs, although he
believed at least some of the cannabis was destined for gangs.

Mr Offen said this was the first time the operation had been run
jointly between Ashburton and Timaru.

One Ashburton staff member had been part of the operation to "give an
idea" where cannabis plots had been found in the past, he said.

Fortunately, Mr Offen said the recovery of the plants had been "pretty
straight forward" and although staff took precautions, he was unaware
of any problems with booby traps.

While pleased with the outcome of the aerial operation Mr Offen said
police efforts did not stop there. With some time left before the
cannabis growing season came to an end, he said police would continue
their focus on the ground.

"The historic rule of thumb is that airborne operations only find
one-third of the plants out there, so we are still on the look-out."