A 45-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to 249 cannabis plants uprooted and seized during a search warrant executed by police at a bush allotment in Lokupo on 'Eua island on April 10.

Inspector Fine said 13 plants uprooted were up to 2-3 feet high while the rest were still in nursery stage.

The accused has been charged with five counts in relation to the cultivation and possession of this illicit drug.

He has been transferred to Nuku’alofa where he is currently detained at the Central Police Station for trial.

This is not the biggest cannabis bust on the outer island. A police operation in November last year saw 458 cannabis plants uprooted and seized.

"There are a lot of this illicit drug on the island. On Monday, 17 April someone came into the station and turned in a sack that contained around 16,000 cannabis seeds that he found on a road near the same area of Lokupo. We are still investigating this matter," said the Inspector.