Pubdate: Thu, 16 Dec 2004
Source: Ashburton Guardian, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2004 The Ashburton Guardian
Contact:  http://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/
Author: Nyia Strachan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Rural residents are being asked to call police if they see any suspicious 
activity over the next couple of months as the cannabis season moves into 
high gear.

Senior constable Mark O'Brien from the Ashburton police said this time of 
the year cannabis growers would be attempting to plant new crops or attend 
to recently planted ones.

Mr O'Brien asked the public, especially those in the rural areas, to be 
aware of what was happening in their area and to call police if they had 
any concerns.

He did not advise people to deal with the issue themselves.

"Get the registration number, details of the vehicle and call us. Don't put 
yourself at risk and try to sort it out yourself."

All calls will be treated as confidential and while the identity of the 
caller need not be known, police will require reasonably clear details of 
where activity was taking place.

Mr O'Brien said the most common places for cannabis plants to be grown were 
in plantations and river beds, but farmers needed to be aware of what was 
in their maize crops.

There had been cases in recent years in Mid Canterbury where cannabis 
growers had used the maize crops to hide and at the same time help 
cultivate their plants.

"It is usually a couple of plants hidden among the maize and as the maize 
grows so does the cannabis.

"The plants are kept well watered by the farmer who does not realise what 
else he is growing among his maize," Mr O'Brien said.

He said farmers needed to be on the look-out for any strangers on their 
property or even any strange vehicles around their farm.

Depending on how dry conditions got over the next couple of weeks and the 
dedication of the grower, visits to the crop could climb to at least a 
couple a week.

Cannabis season usually runs from October through to April.

As well as the farming community, Mr O'Brien wanted those in the urban 
areas to be aware of the activity around them as well.

He said while the majority of crops were cultivated on rural land and along 
river-beds, some growers were moving their operation indoors or into the 
backyard.

The advice was the same. Ring the police.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl