Police raid $68m Queensland cannabis grow house at Rosedale, near Bundaberg

Police have revealed a single “sophisticated” crime syndicate is behind a drug farm empire worth $250m, with the latest discovered just 2km from a local police station. WATCH THE VIDEO

A $68.5m cannabis haul was seized just 2km from a local police station in one of seven “grow farm” raids with police uncovering a total of $250m in illicit drugs.

Six people will face court on drug charges after police made a second major cannabis grow farm raid in as many weeks.

On Tuesday, detectives from the Drug and Serious Crime Group executed a search warrant at a rural property in Rosedale, between Gladstone and Bundaberg regions.

NAMED: SIX PEOPLE CHARGED OVER DRUG FARM

There they uncovered another large-scale cannabis production facility where a total of 13,670 cannabis plants were seized within 26 green houses.

Detectives estimate the dangerous drugs have a combined street value of approximately $68.5 million. Picture: Queensland Police

A total of 15,088 grams of dried cannabis was also located at the property.

Detectives estimate the dangerous drugs have a combined street value of approximately $68.5 million, according to a QPS release.

Six people, aged between 27 and 40-years-old, were arrested at the property and have been charged with multiple drug related offences including producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and possession of things for use in crime.

They have all been denied bail and are expected to appear at Bundaberg Magistrates Court in the coming days.

Inspector Bradley Phelps from the Drug and Serious Crime Group revealed $68.5 million of cannabis had been seized about two kilometres from the local police station at Rosedale.

It comes just weeks after a second major grow farm raid on the Fraser Coast which resulted in the seizure of $60 million worth of cannabis, cash, vehicles and equipment, as part of Operation Victor Economy.

“In total this year between Victor Economy and Victor Alon we’ve located and executed seven search warrants on seven grow farms with a combined value of $250 million,” Insp Phelps said.

Inside one of the grow houses. Picture: Queensland Police

“The plants are valued with what we find at the time of the execution of those warrants … these are ongoing production processes … every three to four months they will have a new crop that is harvested and sent out to the market.”

Insp Phelps confirmed all seven grow farms were operated by “Vietnamese organised crime”.

“There’s certainly links between the grow farms and the syndicates that are behind the operations.

“It is all hydroponically grown … there’s huge amounts of chemicals and fertilisers that’s used as part of that process … there’s an extensive irrigation system.”

Insp Phelps said the 26 grow tunnels were all 50 metres long and 10 metres wide and that the Rosedale site had previously been used as a cattle property and allegedly purchased by the syndicate late 2022.

“The property only settled, it will be alleged, in January this year … by May/June it would appear that the grow tunnels were established … built and constructed … they then obviously commenced growing the plants and they’ve harvested at least some of the plants on this site prior to us getting there,” he said.

Six people were arrested in the raid. Picture: Queensland Police

“It takes three to four months, the growth cycle for a cannabis plant, grown hydroponically … they can do three to four crops per year.”

Asked whether the Vietnamese nationals would be deported, Insp Phelps said: “Of the six on this site there were two unlawful, non citizens who will face deportation, the other four were on bridging visas”.

Insp Phelps said although there were “links” in terms of the “nationality of the offenders” it is unclear whether there is one syndicate or multiple with an “overarching head”.

“To set this up in a rural community without the neighbours and local police being aware of the existence of these sites is quite amazing and we certainly encourage people to contact crime stoppers or the local police if they have any issues, concerns or suspicions about what may be happening on adjoining properties or neighbouring properties,” he said.

“There was six people located on site … there were facilities there to house many more … the living conditions once again were quite poor … multiple people to a room, these people generally come into this country, they are dumped onto these sites … they work extensive hours and they are willing to take that risk for a monetary reward.

“These syndicates are very well funded, they are very sophisticated, they are very well organised – the people that we find on these sites are fodder for the organised crime syndicates behind it.

A total of 13,670 cannabis plants were seized within 26 green houses. Picture: Queensland Police

“Certainly the exploitation of these offenders is something that is of concern to us … at each site we go to we look at the living conditions, the means that these people have to communicate with the outside world whether it be their family or just to get medical assistance.”

But Insp Phelps said unfortunately there seems to be a “ready workforce willing to take the risk to come out here and conduct this work on behalf of these organised crime syndicates who it would appear have very little concern for their welfare or wellbeing it is simply about having a workforce to create money for the organised crime”.

Speaking about other investigations Insp Phelps said “there are threats to these people”.

“Whether it is to the people themselves or their family members back home should they disclose information to police or authorities and that is of significant concern to us … but it makes it very difficult to extract that information we need to try and target that human trafficking or exploitation that may be occurring,” he said.

It will also be alleged that two of the people arrested are unlawful citizens of Australia and will be referred to the Australian Border Force.

It comes just two weeks after detectives raided a property in Gungaloon (Fraser Coast) on November 7, uncovering a similar amount of cannabis.

Detective Inspector Brad Phelps said detectives are looking into links between the grow farms.

“Between Operation Victor Alon and Operation Economy, this is the seventh farm identified and disrupted by the Drug and Serious Crime Group this year,” he said.

Operation Victor Alon is the protracted investigation targeting organised crime groups operating across Queensland and throughout Australia.

The grow house is so big it can be seen from space. Picture: Google Earth

“We know that these groups operate within a sophisticated national network of production and supply, and we will continue to work through these connections as part of ongoing investigations,” Detective Inspector Phelps said.

“$68.5 million worth of cannabis is another huge amount to take out of supply, in addition to the $60 million worth that was seized earlier this month.

“These groups might be sophisticated but we know how they operate, and we remain committed to removing illicit drugs from our communities and targeting those who profit through the exploitation of vulnerable persons.”