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Waikato Police have recovered tonnes of cannabis grown in large scale indoor commercial cannabis grow facilities linked to Vietnamese nationals.
In the past few months, the Organised Crime Squad has executed multiple warrants across the district, locating 14 Vietnamese-run grow houses with around 200 to 600 plants in each. Up to 750 kgs of cannabis was seized at one property alone.
In addition, these cannabis operations are diverting power, stealing up to an estimated $10,000 per month, says Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall.
“We’re seeing rented residential and commercial properties that have been modified and set up as commercial grow operations with ventilation systems to mask the smell and water reticulation.”
Five people of Vietnamese nationality were located and arrested at one property when police executed a warrant on August 19. They are facing charges of cultivating cannabis for supply. A further three people were arrested at the same address the following day.
At one location in Hamilton, rented industrial premises had been set up as a bespoke indoor commercial grow operation with multiple grow rooms, water reticulation and power being diverted. A fake wall had been erected to disguise the grow rooms from the road. A total of 580 plants were located.
Landlords and owners of these premises were unaware of the activity and shocked by what was located, Keall says.
“The community has been valuable in assisting us with inquiries and we encourage anyone who may have seen unusual activity, equipment or aromas of cannabis, to please let us know. This is a collaborative effort, and we encourage anybody with information about drug-related offending to come forward,” he says.
“By working together, we can all keep our communities safe. You can report suspicions of an address, or any suspicious activity to Police via 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Police are working with Immigration New Zealand in relation to those who have been charged.
Advice for landlords
Police encourage landlords and property managers to remain vigilant and look out for signs that a property may be being used for illegal drug cultivation. This activity can cause significant damage, pose a fire risk and may jeopardise insurance payouts.
Landlords need to remember they have obligations to carry out due diligence on prospective tenants.
Police recommend landlords carry out checks before signing tenants:
• Carry out reference checks
• Meet tenants face-to-face and check IDs
• Credit and income verifications
“Always ensure you carry out regular inspections of your properties. If tenants have a preference to pay rent in cash or offer to pay more to avoid inspections, that should be a red flag,” Keall says. “Landlords and neighbours can also play a part in stamping out these operations.”
Other warning signs include blacked-out or permanently covered windows, extractor fans, ventilation systems or unauthorised structural changes to the exterior of the property or signs that an electricity meter has been tampered with or bypassed, he adds.
