Plans to ditch the annual cannabis eradication operation hasn’t gone down well with the New Zealand Police Association.

A police spokeswoman said police have a range of tactical options available to target the production, manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs.

“These tactics include intelligence gathering through a variety of methods including aerial searches, using informant information, general policing and public tip-offs.”

“Districts make these operational decisions based on the requirements specific to each area, working with the National Organised Crime Group throughout the year to target the manufacturers and distributors of methamphetamine, synthetics and cannabis as these drugs are all known drivers of crime and revenue streams for organised crime groups.”

The police spokeswoman said “with the increased harm in many communities arising from other drugs, particularly methamphetamine, a one-size-fits-all annual aerial national cannabis operation no longer represents the most appropriate deployment of Police resources.”

President of the NZ Police Association Chris Cahill said” It is understandable that police need to prioritise where their resources are spent but there are consequences when large operations such as the annual cannabis cull are dropped.”

“Organised crime in New Zealand has a significant interest in cannabis, growing vast crops and controlling the supply to keep the price up, and push meth when it suits instead of making cannabis available.”

Mr Cahill said “with crops being left for harvest by those who run them, we need to ask what the impact of that will be on the districts.”

‘“We do know that previously when a single district elected not to be involved in the national cannabis recovery operation, organised crime moved in and targeted the district as the location for the largest cannabis cultivation operation ever located by Police. (Operation Ragwort, Whanganui 1997)”

“It is also a concern given these nationally co-ordinated raids on major cannabis grows also turn up considerable amounts of stolen property, including many illegal firearms, which we are fighting to get out of the hands of gangs and other organised crime groups.”

National’s police spokesman Simeon Brown sad the annual cannabis eradication operation nets thousands of plants every year and prevents millions of dollars worth of socio-economic harm. It also uncovers organised crime activity, illegal guns and other drug operations.”

“Given the increase in gang activity and violence we’re seeing across the country, operations like cannabis eradication would be useful now more than ever.’“ 

“New Zealanders will rightly want to know why Police made the decision to quietly drop the operation and how they’ll continue to tackle issues around supply of cannabis.”

However a police spokeswoman said “the illicit supply of cannabis remains a focus for police, and funding is still available to districts that wish to prioritise the use of tactical support for the detection of cannabis plantations.”

“The decision to spread resources throughout the year, and increase surveillance focus on the drugs causing the greatest harm in the community, does not mean that police across the country will not investigate and prosecute people engaged in the commercial cultivation of cannabis.”