Police uncover $2.5 million cannabis haul

File photo / NZ Herald

A 28-year-old Dannevirke man will appear in court again tomorrow after police allegedly uncovered more than 850 cannabis plants with an estimated street value up to $2.5 million growing in a garage.

Dannevirke farmhand Aaron Hockly, also known as Waddilove, appeared at Palmerston North District Court on Saturday charged with cultivation of cannabis. He was remanded in custody.

The sophisticated growing operation with 863 seedlings and mature plants was discovered by police on Friday after a tip-off from the public, Dannevirke Detective Sergeant Graham Perks said.

A 2pm raid on the Otope Rd address revealed a sophisticated growing room set up in a garage, he said.

"In the room were 699 seedlings and 164 more mature plants.

"If all the plants were grown to full maturity and then harvested, the estimated street value is anywhere between $500,000 and $2.5 million."

Mr Perks said police received a tip-off suggesting cannabis was being grown at the address on Thursday, and acted fast.

He said a three-hour swoop seized the plants and growing equipment.

"It is before the court so I can't go into details. What we can say is that it was sophisticated in terms of its construction, lighting and ventilation."

The haul was one of the largest police in the region had seen.

"It is certainly a significant seizure in terms of the numbers of plants," Mr Perks said. "When we do cannabis recovery operations we can sometimes seize a couple of hundred plants. We don't tend to get seizures of that many.

"In terms of potential value it is high, but bear in mind a lot of these were seedlings so although they do have a high value it is not realised until further down the line."

The matter was not gang related and no one else was currently facing charges.

Mr Perks said the discovery demonstrated how important it was for the public to help police keep criminals in check.

"We do rely on public information and this is a good example of how valuable that is. The fact that we have identified this just goes to show what we can achieve when the public does their bit.

"If anyone has any information about drug cultivation, production and supply we encourage them to make contact with us or phone Crimestoppers."