2200 drug plants from 10 Sydney suburbs discovered
POLICE have crushed an enormous cannabis production syndicate operating across Sydney’s west, seizing more than 2200 plants from 10 suburbs and arresting five of the alleged operators. Here are the areas of the homes, which were raided.
NSW
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POLICE have crushed an enormous cannabis production syndicate operating across Sydney’s west, seizing more than 2200 plants worth $6.2 million from 10 suburbs and arresting five of the alleged operators.
Strike Force Grassy police raided 19 properties at Bankstown, Yagoona, Condell Park, Greenacre, Riverwood, Penshurst, Bexley, Campsie, Strathfield and Mortdale from daybreak on Wednesday.
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Footage of the Mortdale raid showed room after room of potted marijuana plants under fluorescent lighting run through a labyrinth electrical wires and power sources.
Police will allege in court more than 2200 cannabis plants were seized and cannabis leaf, along with fraudulent documentation as the properties were leased using false paperwork.
The sheer police power required for the operation was staggering — led by the Redfern Regional Enforcement Squad, the raids included officers from 16 local commands, two other regional enforcement squads and the Public Order and Riot Squad.
A 32-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested at a Bankstown property. She was charged with cultivate prohibited plant-large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group and refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on July 18.
The man is due to appear in court on September 5 on more than 30 charges including direct criminal group, knowingly take part — cultivate, take part supply prohibited drug, dishonestly obtain by deception, and take part enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis.
A 27-year-old man was charged with 20 offences including take part cultivate prohibited plant.
A 21-year-old man arrested at a Strathfield property was charged with two counts of cultivation and participate in criminal group.
A 33-year-old man allegedly fled the scene when police entered a Hurstville property before being caught and charged with goods in custody and participate in criminal group.
Redfern Region Enforcement Squad Commander Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell vowed to maintain the pressure underworld cannabis syndicates.
“Make no mistake — this is organised crime. Those involved simply want to make a profit no matter the cost,” Supt Bell said.
“We want to disrupt every aspect of their operation, by not only taking way their infrastructure, but getting these criminals off the street.
“Hydroponic houses have the potential to put surrounding houses and people in danger and they can be anywhere. This group used a diverse range of suburbs to try and hide their activities.”
Signs of a hydro house include, but should not be confined to:
• Increased security measures (roller shutters, fences, vicious dogs in the yard)
• Increased use of electricity
• Increased use of water
• Illegal connection to electrical supply
• Condensation on windows
• Continual running of generators
• Disposal of large amounts of garbage
• Large quantities of chemicals and fertilisers around the premises
• Locks or other methods in place to prevent access to the electricity meter box
• Discarded chemical containers (fertilisers, liquid and bagged growing cultures).