Operation Kirsty

[SMOKEU]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crim...nnabis-plants/

Police arrested over 250 people including gang members and repeat offenders on cannabis charges in the central district alone this year.

They say the haul of 11,047 plants and 257 arrests, part of Operation Kirsty, has saved the taxpayer $30 million in “social harm” costs and put a “significant dent” in the cannabis trade.

Police spokesman Constable Dave Kirk said the annual campaign was aimed at getting drugs off the streets.

"The social harm that the cannabis trade creates is huge. Health, education, employment, the benefits system are all affected by the influences of drugs on people's lives. It is estimated that this year's seizure in Central District alone has saved the country $29,746,170 in social harm costs.

"That sort of cost to society cannot be underestimated and we will continue to do everything in our power to disrupt the trade and bring those responsible to account."

Mr Kirk said the anti-cannabis work involved surveillance phases where they identified where crops were being grown before officers moved in to arrest the offenders and pull out the plants. Some raids were made after police were lowered from Air Force Iroquois helicopters.

The most prolific cannabis growing regions were Ruapehu, with 1504 plants recovered and Wanganui, with 2024 plants. Police said the topography meant they were good areas for growers.

The biggest single haul was in the Tararua area with 852 plants seized from a single plot.

In addition to the 7952 plants recovered from the aerial operation, a further 3095 were recovered as a result of intelligence gathering and the execution of search warrants, police said.

While the number of plants seized in total was down by 1181 on last year, the number of offenders arrested rose, police said.

[imdying]

Yes, we can all read stuff too... thanks for adding nothing

[Mully]

Yes, we can all read stuff too... thanks for adding nothing

He added colour........

I'd be interested in knowing where they get a "social cost" of $30mil for the stuff they seized.

[The Pastor]

sweet now i can increase my dope prices!

[Blackshear]

What the fuck is this social harm bullshit?
What a waste of goddamn money. NZ is the largest dope-smoking community in the whole world, you must stop and ask yourself why.
Because it's addictive? Not really. Because it kills people? Uhm, no. Because it is enjoyable and relaxing? IMHO, yes.

It's been said time and time again.
Alcohol - Incredibly dangerous. Something like 80% of all teenage hospital admissions, incredibly large road fatality contributor etc etc. Still legal.
Cigarettes? To each their own, cancer, 'harm to other people' and all that shit. Still legal.
Cannabis? Lol, no. Do some reading on the large list of medicinal values, and how 'omg drugz are bad' dangerous it isn't. People can grow it themself - can't tax it.

FUN FACT! The war on drugs in America costs the taxpayer almost 3 billion dollars a year, and the vast majority of those people locked up (Who cost around 60k a year to imprison or something) are average joes, looking for a break on fridays etc etc.

It's kind of sad.

/rant (I had caffeine today and haven't eaten)

[R6_kid:Me]

Hmm, nearly all of the people I know that smoke weed are otherwise normal functioning contributers to society. The rest would be bludgers regardless of whether they smoked weed or not.

[imdying]

Hmm, nearly all of the people I know that smoke weed are otherwise normal functioning contributers to society. The rest would be bludgers regardless of whether they smoked weed or not.

This I agree with

[RantyDave]

I'd be interested in knowing where they get a "social cost" of $30mil for the stuff they seized.

They allocate a fixed sum of $150 to each of the 200,000 harm free nights in with a quiet puff they just ruined et voila! ... thirty mil in social harm.

Ohhh! They think they reduced social harm? I have no idea, then.

Dave

[StoneY]

Hmm, nearly all of the people I know that smoke weed are otherwise normal functioning contributers to society. The rest would be bludgers regardless of whether they smoked weed or not.

Now thats something WORTH saying

And so true- I only know one loser that has no future from my 'circle of indulgers' and well, in his case we can blame the govt sponsored chemicals his lazy ass parents had him placed on as a kid instead of raising him as they should have (IMHO)

[SMOKEU]

The Netherlands has a lower violent crime rate than NZ and look how easy it is to get really chronic buds over there.

[98tls]

The only downside i ever experienced was how much my munchies bill rose.