Police seize close to $12M worth of cannabis in targeted operation

More than 3700 cannabis plants have been seized from homes in southwest Sydney as part of a targeted operation into drug supply. Eight men have been charged.

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Police have seized close to $12 million worth of cannabis plants as part of a targeted operation into cannabis supply and cultivation in southwest Sydney.

Twenty-five homes were searched by officers from the South West Metropolitan Region as part of the Operation Trident investigation, with eight people charged and arrested.

Police conducted search warrants on 25 homes in the last month.

Close to $12 million worth of cannabis plants have been seized by police.

More than 3740 cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of $11.8 million, have been seized in the last month.

The biggest raid took place in Elderslie on July 2, with a large-scale hydroponic set-up located and 352 cannabis plants and equipment seized.

A man, 41, was charged and has been formally refused bail at Campbelltown Local Court.

Hydroponic setups were located at Elderslie, Liverpool and West Hoxton.

All men are now before the courts.

Last week, Liverpool police arrested a 25-year-old man after locating a sophisticated hydroponic set-up and cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $592,000 in a West Hoxton home.

South West Metropolitan Region operations manager Detective Chief Inspector Dean Johnstone commended the combined efforts of police across the nine commands for their co-ordinated approach in addressing drug-related crime.

“Over the past month our officers have put a significant dent in the cultivation and supply of cannabis across southwest Sydney,” he said.

The targeted operation was conducted across nine Police Area Commands.

“Together they have removed close to $12 million worth of cannabis from our streets and these results truly are a testament to their hard work and dedication to making our community a safer place.

“Those who continue participate in illegal drug-related activity should see this as a caution — our officers will target you, charge you and put you before the courts.

“The community of southwest Sydney should be reassured that our officers, right across the region, are doing everything possible to find and arrest those that put other’s lives at risk.”

The set-up at one of the homes targeted by the police operation.

Detective Chief Inspector Johnstone said the results were a testament to the hard work and dedication of police within the region, adding the “results will continue”.

“It also serves as a caution to offenders who are out there, those who desire to cause harm within our community.”

He said electricity feeds “gained unlawfully” for hydroponic set-ups created a fire hazard for the house as well as neighbouring properties.

“I would ask any member of the community, if there’s any concerns about a house within their street, whether it be a neighbour or a few houses down the road, contact police, give us the information, we will investigate.

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Johnstone, South West Metropolitan Region Operations Manager.

“A lot of the information that we get is community-based.”

Some “symptoms” of hydroponic set-ups may include windows that are always closed or covered in black plastic, lights that are never turned off, unkempt lawns and uncollected newspapers, and people coming and going “very rarely”, he said.

Other notable raids included officers discovering 136 cannabis plants in a Campbelltown home following a vehicle stop in Moorebank on July 17. Two 24-year-old men were charged with further inquiries revealing the men were in the country illegally.

Operation Trident raids were also conducted at homes in Chester Hill, South Wentworthville and Belmore with more than 100 cannabis plants seized at each location.

All men are now before the courts.