Landlords are being warned to check who’s renting their properties after police shut a cannabis operation that caused some homes to burn down.
A Vietnamese organised crime ring operating in East Auckland had been targeting rental properties for a “illegal activity” including growing cannabis, said Senior Sergeant Al Grant, of Counties Manukau East Police.
“These syndicates are operating across Auckland, significantly modifying rental properties to cultivate cannabis with extremely dangerous electrical installations,” he said.
“In some instances, this dodgy wiring has caused homes to burn to the ground, and it’s extremely fortunate there has been no loss of life.”
Grant said 20 properties were used by the crime ring, some with fuses replaced.
“Some of the fuses were so hot, an electrician could not touch them, and the wire had melted – they were ready to catch fire.”
“We’d estimate millions of dollars’ worth of electricity is being stolen every year to run these operations overall.”
Nearly $300,000 worth of electricity had been stolen across the properties in the suburbs of Somerville, Botany Downs, Pakuranga and Ōtara.
Thirteen kilograms of cannabis and 953 cannabis plants were destroyed by police following the operation.
Grant said warrants executed by police and Ministry of Business Employment and Innovation (MBIE) were just the beginning with similar operations still ongoing by organised crime groups across Auckland.
“These properties may seem innocent enough and do not really attract neighbours’ attention.
“Make no mistake, these syndicates are well connected to gangs and this cannabis is a large source of income for their illegal operations.”
Duped into coming to NZ to work in the drug trade
Grant said in some cases those found looking after the rental properties had been deceived into coming to New Zealand with the promise of mployment.
Once in New Zealand, they have been forced into illegal labour to repay their debt for travelling here, said Grant.
MBIE’s General Manager of Immigration Compliance and Investigations Steve Watson warned migrants to be aware of employment scams before coming to New Zealand.
“Migrant workers need to be aware that if they are being asked to pay large amounts of money to an offshore agent to travel and work in New Zealand, it is highly likely that this is part of a fraudulent scam.”
