Cannabis seized from million dollar Auckland homes
Drug dealers have been using upmarket Auckland homes worth $1 million to grow more than 500 cannabis plants, police say.
Police arrested three people on Friday after finding six Papakura and east Auckland houses, some worth $1m, set out with cannabis growing rooms.
Each house had an elaborate growing set up with, on average, 60-80 plants of various ages and sizes, police said after 45 officers participated in the series of search warrants.
New images from police reveal the growing operations. Photo: NZ Police
Five of the six houses were rented.
"Clearly the landlords for these properties have never done a house inspection in the time the property has been rented and they had no idea of the illegal use that was going on," Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Tiernan said.
New images from police reveal the growing operations. Photo: NZ Police
"If it can be proved that any of the landlords did know what was happening in the houses, then police would look at taking proceed of crime action against them and seeking the forfeiture of the houses to the Crown."
A man and woman, both aged 29, and a 42-year-old man have been charged with cultivating cannabis and were due before Manukau District court on Friday.
