Mittagong cannabis bust: $500,000 drug bust could be part of cannabis cultivation syndicate

Police have seized half a million dollars worth of cannabis from a building close to the centre of Mittagong, which they believe may be part of a wider weed-growing syndicate.

Police seized half a million dollars worth of cannabis from a building close to the centre of Mittagong, which they believe may be indicative of a wider weed-growing syndicate in the area.

At 8am on Wednesday morning, police officers executed a search warrant on an unoccupied building on Old Hume Highway in Mittagong and discovered a sophisticated hydroponic set up.

During the raid, police found and seized 156 cannabis plants and more than 5kg of cannabis leaf.

The raid was a result of a month-long investigation into the cultivation of cannabis in the Southern Highlands. The multi-agency search team included officers from the Southern Highland Proactive Crime Team, The Hume Detectives, The Hume Drug Unit, the Dog Unit and the Public Order and Riot Squad.

Police have discovered 156 marijuana plants in an unoccupied house in Mittagong.

Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said officers received information about the location of the building which led to the sizeable drug seizure.

“This was a set up with a large number of plants,” he said.

“This was unusual for Mittagong in recent times.”

Det-Chief Insp Bernie said police were concerned about the central location of the drug premises and its proximity to other houses.

“It’s a bit of a concern being so close to the CBD,” he said.

“It wasn’t in a rural or semirural location.”

Police believe the building may be part of a wider cannabis cultivation syndicate in the Southern Highlands.

Det-Chief Insp Bernie said similar instances of drug cultivation in Sydney have included multiple drug premises.

Police are appealing for public assistance in identifying other possible drug premises in the area.

“Police have concerns that there might be more premises like this in the area and we’re seeking public assistance in identifying premises used for this type of activity,” Det-Chief Insp Bernie said.

Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said the drug bust could be linked to a larger local cannabis cultivation syndicate.

“We want to ask people to keep an eye out for premises with unusual smells or suspicious activity or windows that are boarded up.”

The unoccupied building at Old Hume Highway had multiple electrical transformers in the ceiling and sealed windows. The building has been forensically examined and police are waiting on the results for a possible indication of the identity of the cannabis grower or growers.

There have been no arrests made at this stage, but Det-Chief Insp Bernie emphasised the investigation is in the “early days” and inquiries are ongoing.