Keen-nosed police officers at a roadside checkpoint led to the sniffing out of a sizeable cannabis haul last week.

Operation West – a simple road policing operation checking for drink driving, lack of seatbelts, mobile phone use and other traffic offending – which involved a number of western Southland-based frontline staff, got underway on November 27. However, it uncovered some more significant crime underway, thanks to a familiar smell.

Staff stopped a car, which had driven from Gore and was heading toward Te Anau. They caught a strong smell of cannabis and invoked a 2012 Search & Surveillance Act of the vehicle.

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Two large chilly bins were located on the rear seat of the vehicle and were found to contain 1kg of cannabis head and more than $500 in cash.

The sole occupant, a 29-year-old man from Te Anau, admitted he had just purchased the cannabis in Gore.

Te Anau staff continued inquiries at the 29-year-old’s home address in Te Anau where they seized cannabis, more than $2000 in cash, and drug dealing equipment.

Sergeant in Charge of Te Anau Police, Tod Hollebon was pleased with what he described as “some excellent teamwork carried out by Southland staff over the weekend with a borderless approach to policing”.

“This has resulted in Police taking a substantial amount of cannabis off the street, and uncovering a significant growing operation,” he said.

Further investigation was carried out and revealed a 45-year-old man from Gore, was responsible for the sale of the drugs.

A search of a Gore property was undertaken by staff and approximately 3kg of cannabis, several plants, and $10,000 cash were seized from that address.

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“I am proud of our local police working together across the borders in Riversdale, Mataura, Gore and Invercargill, which has resulted in two arrests so far,” says Sergeant Hollebon.

The 45-year-old man from Gore was arrested will appear in the Gore District Court while the 29-year-old man from Te Anau, also arrested, will appear in the Invercargill District Court at a later date.

They will appear on drugs charges; however, inquiries are continuing, and further charges could be laid.