More than 200 people entered New Zealand on work visas tied to now-defunct companies later exposed as fronts for Vietnamese-led cannabis ‘grow house’ operations, a joint police and Immigration NZ investigation has revealed.
Operation Clementine uncovered a network of 38 registered companies—mostly in construction or hospitality—used to facilitate the arrival of migrant workers, many of whom paid tens of thousands to dodgy agents only to be exploited as illegal “crop sitters” under threat of debt repayment, according to a report in legacy media (paywalled).
While Immigration NZ has since cancelled visas, issued deportation notices, and flagged involved businesses and individuals, the operation highlights serious gaps in inter-agency information sharing and systemic failures in detecting organised crime abuse of the immigration system.
Image credit: Roberto Valdivia
Well it was there for the exploiting. Like “by design” eh.
Decriminalize, not legalize – that just opens it up to corporates and greed
Take away their market. Free up police time. Police are never going to stop people consuming marijuana.
The law as it is, is allowing for this to happen. The referendum should have been for decriminalization not legalization – most probably on purpose
Most definitely on purpose!
Decriminalization vs Legalization gives them the tool of governing, taxing, cuntsulting, dispensing, data-collecting etc..
Imagine thousands of people say ‘na f*ckit, I’m not paying for expensive alcohol, ciggies, or happy pills, I’m just gong to use God’s natural gift.’
You re supposed to be FREE but THEY made you thejr product.
I am sure there would have been enough kiwis willing to do “crop sitting” for a decent wage and company perks
Legalise hello, legalise it.