Drug farm drained local power: police

A sophisticated hydroponic cannabis-growing operation at Puhoi, north of Auckland, used so much electricity that it caused power surges and blackouts in the area, police say.

Leighton Kenneth Hoe, aged 40, of central Auckland, was remanded on bail for a pre-depositions hearing on a charge of cultivating cannabis when he appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday.

Hoe, represented by Karl Trotter, has yet to enter a plea.

Police documents say he rented a Puhoi property and, with other people, transformed it into an elaborate, commercially sized cannabis-growing operation.

He wired up the property so the amount of power used in the operation would not appear on the electricity bill.

But it consumed so much electricity that the local supply was affected, causing surges and power cuts round the area.

Altogether, police seized 1049 cannabis plants on the property.

The hydroponic set-up was so extensive that police say they took two days to dismantle it.

They allege that the interior of the house was gutted, leaving just the shell.

All the windows and doors were lined with polythene.

According to police, two air-conditioning units, several dehumidifiers, lights and air pumps were installed for optimal growth of the plants.

Hoe allegedly also parked a large truck on the property, the rear of which allowed more cannabis to be grown on trays, again with lights fitted.

A purpose-built drying room was also said to have been erected on the property to process the cannabis when it matured.

- NZPA