A rubbish fire at Reidston led Oamaru police to a property where cannabis was allegedly being grown outdoors.
A 54-year-old Reidston man has been arrested and charged with cultivating cannabis after police executed a search warrant at his Reidston property on Wednesday afternoon.
Officers seized 96 cannabis plants of varying maturity, as well as 300g of ''low-quality'' cannabis leaf and 1700 seeds, police said.
Senior Constable Stuart Dowling, of Oamaru, said police received information from the Fire Service that it had noticed what appeared to be an outdoor-growing operation when it was called to a rubbish fire in Stone St, Reidston, at 11.35am on Sunday.
''They noticed some bright green plants growing,'' Snr Const Dowling said.
He said he could not put an estimated street value on the seized cannabis, because of its varying quality, but said ''it's not as valuable as it sounds''.
''It wasn't good-quality cannabis ... the grower himself is quite inexperienced,'' Snr Const Dowling said.
The cannabis growing season is well under way and police would welcome information from the public about growing operations, or related suspicious activity, he said.
Anyone with information about drug cultivation, manufacture or supply in the Waitaki district, is asked to contact the Oamaru Police Station on 03 433 1400.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
