New Zealand police seize 1.4 tonnes of cannabis in Auckland raid

Police in Auckland carried out the fourth iteration of Operation Beryl, targeting 17 rental properties used as commercial‑scale cannabis grow houses. The week‑long operation uncovered 1,532 plants – 862 mature and 670 juvenile – weighing about 1.376 tonnes, described by Inspector Mohammed Atiq as “a truckload of cannabis”.

All properties were unoccupied at the time of the raid and tenanted by Vietnamese nationals; no arrests have been made yet. Police warned landlords and property managers to scrutinise cash‑paying tenants and warned of fire and safety risks from makeshift wiring, urging vigilance to prevent future grow‑house operations.