Huge cannabis haul uncovered in series of northern suburbs raids

After a further eight raids yesterday, police say 20,000 cannabis plants have now been removed from grow houses in SA in the past 12 months.

Four men have been charged over a number of illicit drug crops uncovered yesterday in the northern suburbs. Picture: SA Police.

Almost 3200 more cannabis plants have been ripped out of the state’s drug black market in the latest big bust in a police crackdown on grow houses.

Many more than 20,000 cannabis plants have now been removed from grow houses in South Australia over the past 12 months in what police say puts a dent in supply of the drug on the streets.

In the latest bust, plants were found during multiple searches across Adelaide’s northern suburbs on Monday.

Eight semi-rural and northern suburbs properties were searched as police and detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch found the 3190 marijuana plants.

They also uncovered equipment used to grow the drugs.

The searches were part of Operation Glasshouse, which is targeting the large commercial cultivation of cannabis.

Four men have been charged over a number of illicit drug crops uncovered yesterday in the northern suburbs. Picture: SA Police.

The crops included young and mature plants. A 42-year-old man from Virginia, a man, 40, from Paralowie, a 44-year-old man from Salisbury North and a man, 21, of no fixed address were arrested.

They were each charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court yesterday.

A 38-year-old Paralowie man was reported for cultivating cannabis and will appear in court at a later date.

Monday’s bust follows the discovery of what police dubbed one of the biggest in the state’s history at Buckland Park, north of Adelaide, late last month.

More than 10,000 plants in various stages of maturity and racks of drying cannabis were found in numerous glasshouses at the property on December 29.

Eight people were arrested over the discovery and police are investigating organised crime links.

In February last year, 7000 plants were found growing in greenhouses in a bust at nearby Virginia.

Senior police described both the Buckland Park and Virginia crops as “hiding in plain sight”.

In July, a police task force dubbed Operation Hemp searched 19 properties across SA, finding 642 plants, 61kg of dried cannabis and cash, worth a total of $6m.

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