Vietnamese-linked cannabis grow houses uncovered across Waikato

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.

A total of 580 plants were located, varying in age, inside multiple rooms inside the premises.

“We would also like to point out that the landlords and owners of these premises were unaware of the activity and shocked by what was located.”

“The community has been valuable in assisting us with inquiries and we encourage anyone who may have seen unusual activity, equipment or aromas of cannabis, to please let us know.

“This is a collaborative effort, and we encourage anybody with information about drug-related offending to come forward.

“By working together, we can all keep our communities safe.”

You can report suspicions of an address, or any suspicious activity to Police via 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police are working with Immigration New Zealand in relation to those who have been charged.

Advice for landlords

Police encourage landlords and property managers to remain vigilant and look out for signs that a property may be being used for illegal drug cultivation. This activity can cause significant damage, pose a fire risk and may jeopardise insurance payouts.

Landlords need to remember they have obligations to carry out due diligence on prospective tenants.

Police recommend landlords to carry out checks before signing up tenants:

• Carry out reference checks.
• Meet tenants face-to-face and check IDs
• Credit and income verifications.

Always ensure you carry out regular inspections of your properties. If tenants have a preference to pay rent in cash or offer to pay more to avoid inspections, that should be a red flag.

Landlords and neighbours can also play a part in stamping out these operations.

Other warning signs can include blacked-out or permanently covered windows, extractor fans, ventilation systems or unauthorised structural changes to the exterior of the property or signs that an electricity meter has been tampered with or bypassed.