Jovica Maljkovic: Man escapes jail over role in major Sydney cannabis cultivation operation

A southwest Sydney man has escaped a jail sentence after police dismantled an elaborate cannabis syndicate spread across 19 homes in the region.

A southwest Sydney man has received a community corrections order for his role in a major cannabis growing operation that was dismantled by police last year.

Jovica Maljkovic, 38, of Mt Pritchard, faced Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday charged with not keeping a firearm safely, enhanced indoor cultivation, and use/consume/waste electricity without authority.

He was arrested in July after 19 homes across Sydney’s south-west were raided with police finding a total of $10 million worth of cannabis plants.

Jovica Maljkovic, 38, outside Campbelltown Court on Wednesday. Picture: Lauren Ferri

On July 13 police were granted a search warrant for Maljkovic’s home and attended the following morning, finding the 38-year-old there along with his family.

During the search, a closed door underneath the stair well was found which lead to another small door which was found to be hiding a hydroponic cannabis cultivation setup.

Inside the door police found 27 cannabis plants underneath lampshades along with multiple lights, transformers, charcoal cutters and electrical wires, according to court documents.

“Police confirmed the presence of 27 cannabis plants growing in soil, an amount more than the small but less than the indictable quantity for cannabis plants,” court documents said.

Police get ready to search a property, one of 19 raided.

According to court documents, the plants were approximately one-metre in height and police found 64 further cuttings of cannabis in the hydroponic room.

During the search of the house police located Maljkovic’s combination rifle/shotgun in a case on his bedroom floor – not in the gun safe where it should be kept, court documents state.

The 38-year-old was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged and later pleaded guilty to the three offences.

Jovica Maljkovic during his arrest last year. Picture: NSW Police.

Campbelltown Court on Wednesday heard Maljkovic was involved in the syndicate for financial gain as he had crippling debt as a result of gambling issues.

For his role in the scheme Maljkovic was convicted of all three charges and handed a Community Corrections Order for 20 months.

“If you breach this order you’ll be back before the court for re-sentence,” Magistrate Daniel Covington told the 38-year-old.

“The facts are serious but if you re offend the court might form a different view in the future.”