An Auckland man has been caught with an alleged $800,000 worth of cannabis after initially being pulled over for driving without his headlights on.
Police stopped the man's vehicle in Flat Bush at around 9.30pm.
Counties Manukau CIB Detective Inspector Karen Bright said staff noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle.
“Police staff invoked a search for drugs and located several large sacks of packaged cannabis in the rear of the vehicle.”
The cannabis - weighing 65kg - was split up into bags and was accompanied by a "large quantity" of cash.
The 25-year-old driver was taken into custody, and is scheduled to appear in Manukau District Court today.
He faces charges of possessing cannabis for supply and failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search.
“This should put a sizeable dent into the local underground cannabis market,” said Bright.
“Offenders in our communities are making huge profits from the illegal drug trade, and any catch on this scale should send a warning to growers that they will be held to account.”
Bright said the cannabis had an estimated street value of nearly $800,000.
Police in Avondale also discovered cannabis overnight after stopping a driver after observing her manner of driving on the Northwestern Motorway.
Staff searched the female driver’s handbag and allegedly found 116g of the drug and cash.
A 24-year-old woman is scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court today charged with possessing cannabis for supply, driving without a licence, and failing to answer bail.
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