DRUG squad operations on the Tweed have prevented cannabis from reaching kids across the State, Police Minister Michael Daley said.

Mr Daley congratulated police on last week’s seizure of more than $50 million worth of cannabis in just three months as part of the Cannabis Eradication Program.

Strike Force Farrelly seized 2446 plants during the five-day operation in the Tweed region, he said, including an impressive haul of 1100 plants in a single day.

“Unfortunately some people think of cannabis as a soft drug; it isn’t,” Mr Daley said.

“It does cause psychosis, it does destroy families and it is a gateway drug to heavier use.”

Mr Daley said cannabis plantations were a cash crop for organised crime.

“Operations such as this week’s effort in Tweed also prevent cannabis from reaching kids across NSW, and keep would-be drug users out of our hospital system,” he said.

“While I was with the NSW Drug Squad’s Plantation Unit in Tweed this week, I also saw for myself the lengths that criminals are now going to in an unsuccessful effort to try and hide their illegal activities.”

The eradication program has been running since 1987, Mr Daley said, forcing criminals to grow plantations in almost inaccessible locations and in small groupings.

“This makes it much harder for criminals to grow cannabis on the same scale as it was grown in the 1970s, and makes it much harder for them to harvest,” he said.

“Cannabis criminals should heed this warning – whether we catch you on the ground or catch you from the air, we will catch you.”