POLICE WARN OF BOOBY-TRAPPED DOPE PLOTS

Rural landowners and commercial forestry operators are being urged to look
out for booby-trapped cannabis plots as growers embark on traditional
spring and summer planting.

Detective John Nicholls of Motueka police said cannabis growers were at
work throughout the region's forests and farms, planting and tending to
this season's plots.

Many were protected with cyanide baits, gin traps and fish hooks in an
attempt to stop the plants being disturbed by animals and people.

"Plots hold dangers for people who happen upon them, and there is usually
no obvious indication that they are there," Mr Nicholls said.

"If members of the public or landowners discover them, they are advised to
leave them alone and contact their local police station."

Remote rural areas throughout Motueka and Golden Bay were targeted by
growers at this time of year, Mr Nicholls said. Motueka, Brooklyn Valley,
East Takaka and Tapawera were favoured growing spots.

"The theft and vandalism of property can also become more apparent in the
leadup to Christmas, with items such as irrigation pumps, four-wheel
motorbikes and netting being taken from storage sheds."

Rural property owners who suspected their land was being used for growing
cannabis should not confront growers, Mr Nicholls said.

"People going down 'no exit' roads then returning an hour later and
continuing to do so week after week are signs there could be cannabis
activity."

Carter Holt Harvey forest leader Phil Wright said injuries to workers who
came across booby-trapped plots were a major concern at this time of year.

"Workers stumbling across plots is almost a weekly occurrence in every
forest throughout Tasman-West Coast at the moment. Although there have been
no injuries yet, it's always a risk."

Plots were often well concealed among thick gorse and were well
camouflaged, he said.

"Some go to more trouble than others, but planting amidst a forest of
younger trees between three and 15 years old is popular, as it tends to let
more light in."

Damage to access gates and higher fire risks also became more common. "If
they can't get in because gates are locked, they'll ram gates until they do."

Growers who chose particularly remote sites on private rural land in the
hope they would not be discovered were mistaken, said Federated Farmers'
Golden Bay spokesman Kevin McClintock.

"It's naive to think we won't see them while we're out moving stock or
spraying gorse."