Police have seized "quite literally a truckload of cannabis" weighing more than a tonne from 17 suburban rental properties across west Auckland.
Relieving Waitematā West Area Commander Inspector Mohammed Atiq said officers carried out a week-long operation focused on 17 west Auckland properties being used as grow houses.
Police found 1532 plants during the the fourth iteration of Operation Beryl, which targets commercial-scale cannabis cultivation.
This included 862 mature plants and 670 juvenile seedling plants, described by Atiq as "quite literally a truckload of cannabis weighing 1.376 tonnes".
"This is a significant outcome which will unmistakably have an impact on the pockets of organised crime groups, who benefit from this criminal activity."
Atiq said all 17 properties – identified as being tenanted by Vietnamese nationals – were unoccupied at the time, and no arrests had been made at this stage.
"Our staff continue to come across cannabis grow houses being set up in suburban properties across Auckland, and this result comes off the back of the large-scale operation in September last year."
Atiq urged landlords and property management agencies to be vigilant about criminal activity occurring at their properties.
“It’s time to step up and ensure you’re carrying out basic checks on prospective tenants at your properties," he said.
“Tenants insisting on paying rent in cash or offering to pay more to avoid inspections should ring alarm bells.”
Landlords may end up being liable in the event of a fire or significant damage at their properties.
Atiq said there were safety risks for neighbours – given grow houses often used dodgy wiring in their setup.
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