I don’t usually post articles about busts that happen around New Zealand, since most of them are pretty low level, but this one certainly deserves a mention. I met Judith Collins a good few years back, I would have been in school uniform at the time, but I wish I had known enough to be able to have a debate with her about prohibition…
Bust ‘breaks cornerstone’ of cannabis industry
Police Minister Judith Collins has congratulated police on shutting down what they allege is a major source of equipment for commercial cannabis growers.
A nationwide drugs bust was executed today, closing down the 16 branches and distribution centre of hydroponic gardening chain Switched On Gardener.
Hundreds of people, ranging in age from 20 to 60, were arrested and will appear before the courts, with many of them facing charges for selling equipment to make secret gardens for growing cannabis.
Police swooped on 35 businesses and homes throughout the country as part of a two-year undercover police operation code named Operation Lime. The operation targeted businesses and individuals commercially selling equipment used for growing cannabis.
Once police knew who was buying the gear, they launched more stings to catch their targets in the act of growing and selling drugs.
Mrs Collins said today’s arrests would send a strong message to those who tried to produce drugs in New Zealand that they would be caught.
“The message to those who manufacture and sell drugs in our community is that the Government and the police are determined to shut down your activities, and will use every tool at their disposal to do so,” she said.
Directors and managers of Switched On Gardener were among the arrested today and they were due to appear in courts throughout the country on charges which included cultivating cannabis and participating in an organised criminal group.
Police Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope said Operation Lime would “break the cornerstone of the illicit cannabis cultivation industry.”
Search warrants were executed in every police district today, he said in a statement.
“Cannabis is the most abused controlled drug in New Zealand. The harm that this drug causes New Zealand communities can be conservatively estimated at $430 million a year. It hurts every community in every part of the country.”
During the operation undercover police bought equipment, were given advice on how to grow cannabis, “and even purchased cannabis clones and other drugs over the counter from these offenders.”
Mr Pope said businesses had been selling drugs and supporting commercial cannabis growers and organised crime for a long time and the operation had stopped the supply of equipment to grow drugs.
The 250 people arrested face more than 700 charges. They were employees, managers and directors of the companies and growers involved. More than 100 commercial cannabis growing operations linked to the businesses were also raided.
Police said they also seized methamphetamine, LSD, ecstasy and firearms.
Mr Pope said suppliers of illicit equipment to growers would continue to be targeted.
“Criminals buying equipment for their cannabis grows were observed and followed. If people purchase these products for illegal purposes, they can expect to receive a visit from the police.
“Today we are sending a strong message to those who seek to profit from the cannabis industry – you will not get away with it.”
Using hydroponic gear to grow fruit and vegetables indoors and under lights was “exceedingly expensive” and it was not a viable proposition, police said. Because of that, the gear was predominantly sold to grow drugs.
Proceedings would also start under the new Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 to seize assets and money but police said honest suppliers of equipment to genuine gardeners were not targeted in the operation.
The online auction site Trade Me today also banned trading in equipment used to cultivate cannabis.
- NZPA
Source: NZHerald.co.nz
What a bummer he couldn’t have rounded down the estimate to $420 Million, I would have taken Mr Pope more seriously.
a sad day for all NZ ers
yeah, like they have special bean counters, wasting more time!
This is a very sad day for New Zealander’s,
This has hit our Culture hard and where it hurts,
We must must stand strong and tall together,
We need not let this stop our fight in Legalising Cannabis,
This is the very reason why we fight this good fight,
Arrests must stop, Stop locking our people up!!!
Enough is enough, this has gone to way to far!!!
Time to End this Drug War!!!
People it is time to tell them what we really think,
It’s time for us to set our people free!!!
The propaganda doesn’t stop. It’s amazing how all of the media channels have jumped on this story and continue to spout how they have stopped “the harm that it causes in our communities.”
Where does the figure of $430m entail?? What harm are they measuring?? Is that the tally for police services that they used for Operation Lime!
The figure for alcohol is far greater…but oh wait, they’re going to try to squeeze that out of us with the new excise tax on liquor that will more than likely be be squashed due the influence of the ‘liquor cartel’.
Who are the real criminals??
I wonder if/how this will affect J Day and/or if the police are going to be taking a new stance on the event.
I would just love to see on the Saturday night news, “Cannabis smokers continue to smoke after one of the largest commercial marijuana busts”.
Everyone has to go to J day. Show your support to get the law changed.
If this isn’t a clear message that legalisation is necessary there has neveer been a good one. $430 million in costs to the country? Legalise it license it and tax it. Use the excess to balance the budget, help the few that develop problems and get on with it.
The ‘drug harm index’, spouted by the police, is a load of BS.. they are effectively claiming that the street value of the drug & their tax-payer funded costs are ‘drug related harm’.. we all know that its prohibition that is the real harm !!
Alcohol & Tobacco deaths : 1000s.. (legal), Class ‘B’ (?)
Cannabis deaths : ZERO.. (illegal), Class ‘C’ (!) wheres the rationale in that ?
The minister & her ‘private army’ are using this NONSENSE to justify their existence..
“Kia-ora”
We have the most draconian drug laws in the world here and this is further proof. Now you cannot even sell books on growing? That is the equivalent of charging someone with a thought crime!
According to the TV3 news segment, the store owners bail conditions and right to still trade requires that ALL CUSTOMERS MUST PRESENT A PHOTO ID THAT WILL BE SCREENED AGAINST A POLICE DATABASE. What fascist country are we living again?
Show Support for SOG: JDAY Auckland Protest/March
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs317.snc3/28529_419033091092_589341092_5836097_5634130_n.jpg
To Confirm your Coming go here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105950146115157
Here is a Map / Directions / Objectives:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs317.snc3/28529_419033356092_589341092_5836100_2672083_n.jpg
Show Support for SOG: JDAY Auckland Protest/March
Lets Stand Strong Together and tell the New Zealand Government how we ALL feel about Cannabis Prohibition and the recent action taken by the New Zealand Police on (SOG) Switched On Gardner!!!
Join me at JDAY and lets Protest.
It’s about time we all stand up for what we believe in and what is really right!!!
Stop Locking our people up!!!
Arrests must stop!!!
This is getting out of hand and the Government are taking this too far!!!
1) Legalise Cannabis!
Tax The Profits!
2) Hemp for Victory!
3) Protect our Police!
4) Restore Respect For The Law!
5) Restore Freedom!
6) Help Our Farmers!
7) Heal The Sick!
9) Achieve Oil Independence!
10) Regulate The Black Market!
11) Keep Drugs OUT of Kids Hands!
12) Protect the Environment!
13) Put Dealers Out Of Business!
14) Eliminate Drug Violence!
15) Stop Jailing Peaceful People!
16) End The Drug War!
17) Free Our People!
18) Stop The Arrests!
19) Cannabis Smokers Are Not Criminals!
20) Protect Our People!
THE MOTTO:
**********
TAKE OUR LIGHTS!!! AND WE STILL WON’T GO AWAY!!!
Meeting at Albert Park Fountain (Middle of Park) at 1pm
Leave at 1:30 – 1:45pm for March down to Queen St.
Lets Make Sum Noise People! Lets Be Heard!
Message From Dakta Green:
***********************
Dear Cannabis Community,
It may seem like others have taken up arms against us, but cannabis community campaigner Dakta Green has already appealed for a truce on the War Against Drugs (y’know, the one that attacks ordinary Kiwi families).
Armistice Tour update as of 9.25pm Tuesday.
Dakta Green – founder of New Zealand’s only cannabis club The Daktory – reports he is very close to the goal of raising 2000 cannabis law reform submissions by this Friday.
He and fellow Daktavists will personally deliver the submissions they have raised on a two-round road tour – in MaryJane the Cannabus – of the North Island to the Law Commission offices in Wellington this Friday.
Staying true to the Daktory’s ethos of “Live like it’s Legal”, community leader and veteran cannabis law reform campaigner Dakta Green described today’s nationwide police raids as both disgusting and ineffective.
“They will have no effect and are a ludicrous waste of police resources and time.
“Unless the police have some way of turning the sun off there will be no shortage of cannabis.”
Dakta Green’s week and a half on the road has given him personal experience of the availability of cannabis in Heartland Kiwi communities.
“Our road trip has revealed that cannabis is plentiful, there’s tons of buds around.”
Stay tuned for further Armistice Tour updates…
https://norml.org.nz/postp105734.html&sid=5f92765373a9a1c8939e6d15af633883#105734
500,000 for a Public Referendum on New Zealand Cannabis Laws
http://www.causes.com/causes/472323?recruiter_id=131084711 /img]
ALL CUSTOMERS MUST PRESENT A PHOTO ID THAT WILL BE SCREENED AGAINST A POLICE DATABASE,
Since I have been busted and had diversion already, I guess my name would come up.
What id i was buying the gear genuinely? They gunna raid my house too, crazy man.
ONLY IN NEW ZEALAND aye!!!
What next.. Mr Burns’ sun-blocker (the simpsons).. to stop any chance, of growing any plants.. including ‘legal ones’… HOW RIDICULOUS !!!
Aotearoa/NZ or Aotearoa/NaZi ?
Kia-ora
It’s horrible.