DRUG DOG IGNORED FAKE 'TINNIES'

When a Dunedin police drug dog walked straight past a pile of
marijuana "tinnies" without even a sniff, police officers became suspicious.

On closer inspection, the officers discovered the dog's nose was not
out of order - the 1g tinnies contained no marijuana at all.

Instead, they were filled with dried grass sprayed with flammable
butane so it would burn like a cigarette.

Sgt Chris McLellan said the tinnies were found at a South Dunedin
house when police executed a drugs search warrant last month.

Several aerosol cans of butane were also found at the
address.

Police believed the tinnies, which had a street value of about $25
each, were destined for sale as marijuana.

It was not uncommon for cannabis in tinnies to be adulterated with
other dried vegetation, and police inquiries found fake tinnies had
been sold before in Dunedin.

While it was an offence to both sell and purchase fake tinnies, police
were concerned that it was dangerous.

"Obviously, it's dangerous to inhale butane, but also it could be
dangerous when other ingredients are added to the marijuana," Sgt
McLellan said.