Northland cannabis growers hit by dry weather

Cannabis growers are struggling to produce their product in the dry weather.

Hot weather is driving people to the surf to cool down but the summery conditions are also forcing Northland cannabis growers to seek out water sources for a different reason.

A spell of sweltering days has been perfect for beachgoers and campers but green-fingered drug growers will be looking to water their crops with more frequency. For those not growing close to water it will have to be carried in.

Police are asking members of the public to watch out for the increased suspicious activity in rural areas, with the growing season in full swing.

The man tasked with running Northland's annual drug recovery operation, Detective Sergeant John Miller, said the weather had created a good growing season and growers would need to be watering their crops more regularly.

Red flags include discarded gardening packaging in unusual locations, people carrying water containers into the bush and unexplained lights on farmland at night.

He said farmers and other rural residents needed to be vigilant, as cannabis growers often stole equipment to use in their plots, from quad bikes and electric fence units to fertiliser.

Mr Miller urged people to call anonymously and leave information on the Crimestoppers phone line that would lead officers to cannabis plots they would otherwise never find.

"It seems more and more people are sick of this drug and the problems it causes in our communities and are prepared to let us know about it. We've had some great information left on the phoneline this season."

Attention should also be given to houses which could have indoor growing operations where growers were cloning plants, growing them to a certain size and then selling them to outdoor operators.

"It's a massive market - about 80 per cent of cannabis grown outdoors starts indoors."

Mr Miller said cannabis continued to be a major issue and caused widespread harm through health issues caused by addiction and related crime such as theft and burglary. Last season the annual police cannabis recovery operation saw more than 46,000 plants seized, including 526 yielded by a large indoor growing operation at Paranui, inland from Taipa.

-If you can help, leave information anonymously on the Crimestoppers line - 0800 555 111.