Waikato Police have recovered tonnes of cannabis being grown in large scale indoor commercial cannabis grow facilities linked to Vietnamese nationals – emerging across the Waikato.
In the past few months, the Organised Crime Squad have executed multiple warrants across the district, locating 14 Vietnamese-run grow houses with around 200 to 600 plants in each of those locations.
Up to 750 kgs of cannabis was located and seized at one property alone. In addition, these cannabis operations are diverting power, stealing up to an estimated $10,000 a month to run the grow premises, says Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall.
“What we are seeing is 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 Wednesday, 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 a location in Frankton, a 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.
