January 07, 2010, 01:04 PM

More than 1500 cannabis plants, with a potential value of $1.5 million, have been seized by police from a two-bedroom house near Motueka.

Motueka police say the find is one of the biggest indoor cannabis-growing operations they have busted.

The number of plants, a third of which were seedlings, surprised police when they searched the Westbank Rd property on New Year's Eve.

Motueka Sergeant Robert Crawford said police were "stoked" with the raid.

"We didn't expect as many plants as we found. I can only remember one other sting that busted a bigger indoor operation. This is one of the largest search warrants for that many plants in a single house," he said.

The two-bedroom house had plants in each room, including the kitchen and bathroom, and was aided by a sophisticated lighting and watering set-up.

It looked to have been in operation for some time, said Mr Crawford.

"It was a big set-up. To have that many plants shows that he was pretty serious about it."

He said some plants may have been for sale to other growers.

"We believe a high number of those seedlings were to be sold as clones, so we are thrilled to be able to bust this operation now, before that happens."

The man who owned the house was not home when police searched the property at 11am, but was arrested later that day. He is due to appear in Nelson District Court on January 12.

All the plants appeared to be female and ranged from seedlings to fully mature plants.

The search warrant was conducted as part of Operation Circle, which has led to multiple arrests since it began in November, including the seizure of $100,000 worth of cannabis in mid-December.

Mr Crawford said the entire operation has been a huge success to date.

"We've been happy with the operation so far and what it's come up with. But we are still looking for more, so if anyone has any information they can talk to me in total confidence," Mr Crawford said.