Nineteen men accused of being involved in a large cannabis growing operation have appeared in court. Photo / Getty Images
Nineteen men accused of being involved in a large cannabis growing operation have appeared in court. Photo / Getty Images
Nineteen men facing a range of charges relating to an allegedly organised cannabis growing syndicate have appeared in the Rotorua District Court.
All 19 men were charged after police raids in Rotorua, Taupō and Hamilton in August last year.
The Crown alleges some of the group were involved in cultivatingmillions of dollars worth of cannabis in 2020 that was grown partly by using stolen power.
The men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and appeared before Judge Greg Hollister-Jones who remanded them all on bail to reappear in court for a callover on May 28.
Gareth Luke Tabener, 41, from Rotorua is charged with two counts of stealing electricity valued at more than $1000 from Contact Energy, two counts of possessing equipment capable of being used to cultivate cannabis - namely tents, lighting systems, ventilation and extraction systems and nutrient feeding systems - two counts of cultivating cannabis and participating in an organised criminal group to obtain material benefits from the cultivation of cannabis.
Nineteen men accused of being involved in a large cannabis growing operation have appeared in court. Photo / Getty Images
Macarther Gary John Atkins, 30, from Rotorua, is charged with two counts of stealing electricity valued at more than $1000 from Contact Energy, two counts of possessing equipment capable of being used to cultivate cannabis, two counts of cultivating cannabis, three counts of conspiring to sell cannabis and participating in an organised criminal group.
Clayton Herbert Grant, 26, from Rotorua is charged with two counts of stealing electricity valued at more than $1000 from Contact Energy, two counts of possessing equipment capable of being used to cultivate cannabis, two counts of cultivating cannabis and participating in an organised criminal group.
Joseph Patera-Tekohi Horopapera, 29, from Rotorua is charged with two counts of stealing electricity valued at more than $1000 from Contact Energy, two counts of possessing equipment capable of being used to cultivate cannabis, two counts of cultivating cannabis and participating in an organised criminal group.
Tony Thomas Herbert, 31, from Rotorua is charged with participating in an organised criminal group, two counts of stealing power from Contact Energy valued at more than $1000, two counts of possessing equipment capable of being used in or for cultivating cannabis and two counts of cultivating cannabis.
Jared Steven Wepa, 26, from Rotorua is charged with cultivating cannabis, unlawful possession of a firearm namely a single-barrel shotgun, unlawful possession of a military-style semi-automatic rifle, two counts of unlawful possession of a military-style semi-automatic rifle and cultivating cannabis.
Andrew David Donaldson, 35, from Rotorua is charged with unlawful possession of a .22 calibre rifle with no lawful purpose and unlawful possession of a pump-action shotgun.
Duane Arapeta Simon, 42, from Rotorua is charged with cultivating cannabis and stealing electricity valued at more than $1000 from Contact Energy.
Nineteen men accused of being involved in a large cannabis growing operation have appeared in court. Photo / Getty Images
The following are charged with cultivating cannabis: Tumanako Waaka, 22, from Rotorua, Eddie Clarke, 42, from Rotorua, Rima Selwyn, 21, from Rotorua, Sharn Kelvin Mahuika, 21, from Rotorua, Thomas Joseph Hoani, 28, from Rotorua, Charles Frederick Poi Poi Te Whaarangi Riritahi, 30, from Rotorua, Trent William Cochrane-Daniels, 30, from Rotorua, Tamahou Wirihanga Ruffell, 28, from Auckland, Tamihana Ruffell, 33, from Auckland, Hamiora Mason, 29, from Rotorua and Jason Robinson, 29, from Rotorua.
