A large cannabis operation has been found in a suburb in South Auckland - with a street value of up to $600,000.

Counties Manukau Police said they were tipped off by members of the public about a series of flats on a Manurewa street where the plants were being grown.

Inspector Adam Pyne said four search warrants were carried out on the street by the police’s tactical crime unit yesterday.

“They found at least 357 cannabis plants at various stages of maturity from within the four flats - totally 444 kilograms.”

He said about half of the plants were nearing maturity for harvesting.

“We also found a significant amount of packaged cannabis located inside the oven in one of the flats.”

Pyne said the cannabis has an estimated street value of between $200,000 and $600,000.

Despite the significant find, no one was located at any of the properties during the search warrants, he said.

Police are continuing to make inquiries to locate those responsible and hold them to account, he said.

- More to come