Cannabis busts net 11,000 plants

More than 11,000 cannabis plants have been seized and 257 people have been charged in a Central District police operation this year.

While the number of plants seized, 11,047, was down by 1181 from the same time last year, the number of offenders arrested had risen, police said.

Central District spokesman Constable Dave Kirk said it was estimated that this year's seizure had saved the country $29,746,170 in social harm costs.

"The social harm that the cannabis trade creates is huge. Health, education, employment, the benefits system are all affected by the influences of drugs on people's lives ."

- NZPA