Police have located dozens of cannabis plants after a van was seen driving in the dead of night without its lights on.
A Police unit patrolling in Birkenhead came across the van at around 12.30am.
Inspector Todd Moore-Carter, Acting °Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ East Area Commander, says the van was signalled to stop but immediately drove away from the unit.
¡°The van eventually stopped, however the driver ran off into nearby bush.
¡°Police set up cordons and a dog handler tracked the alleged offender who was located and taken into custody.
¡°Following a search of the van, Police located 33 mature cannabis plants which were recovered and will be destroyed.¡±
A 40-year-old man has been charged with failing to stop and cultivating cannabis and is expected in the North Shore District Court today.
¡°This was great work from all Police staff involved,¡± Inspector Moore-Carter says.
¡°A good haul of cannabis is now out of the hands of dealers and no longer causing harm to our community.
¡°Police will continue to disrupt and prosecute groups involved in the manufacture and distribution of illicit substances.¡±
ENDS
Tony Wright/51½ÖÉä