EDITORIAL COMMENT MARCH 21, 2009

The Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter tracking over much of the
Ashburton District, and particularly the Ashburton River, was not
here for a joy ride.

The very serious business resulting from yesterday's lengthy,
sweeping runs won't be known for a few more days.

But those in the know will appreciate it is another effective weapon
at the forefront of tackling the drugs problem head on.

Several spotters in the chopper were sweeping for signs of cannabis
plantations and other drug-related activities, which would later be
collated and compiled into a dossier on hotspots.

What ensues is the big sting when those properties are staked out
and/or raided by police as part of a nationwide Operation Kristy.

In a similar sting, but on a much grander scale, in the Hawkes Bay,
Gisborne and Bay of Plenty areas, 261 arrests were made and nearly
40,000 plants uncovered and destroyed.

Nelson's Bay unearthed 6000 plants, 15 firearms and resulted in 16 arrests.

In Canterbury earlier this week a police drug raid netted $2.5
million worth of cannabis in three days - all part of the plan to
make a significant dent in the drug trade of cannabis.

The ground assaults on the plantations can be fraught with
life-threatening danger including man-traps, fencing and, on
occasions, criminals with firearms. Locally police consider the
cannabis growing problem is reducing considering the number of plants
recovered annually.

Yet, as the nationwide operation came to an end yesterday, their
northern colleagues weren't so sure.

While they agreed there were similar numbers of, or less, plants
found, their belief is that growers are becoming smarter and more
sophisticated in their production methods.

When their illegal product can sell for up to $12,000 a kilogram,
it's not surprising the use of hydroponics and cloning is increasing.