Croydon crop house: Man arrested after estimated $750,000 cannabis haul

WATCH: Hundreds of cannabis plants have been seized and a man arrested following a crop house raid in Croydon. See our exclusive footage.

An estimated $750,000 of cannabis has been seized and a housesitter arrested after police smashed a crop house in Melbourne’s outer east.

Croydon detective Sergeant Paul Spencer said officers raided the home in Pytchley Rd about 6pm on July 1, uncovering more than 300 mature cannabis plants spread across four bedrooms and a lounge area.

Officers removed the plants and dismantled growing tents and other equipment on Saturday morning.

Maroondah detectives with a collection of cannabis plants found in a bedroom of a house in Pytchley Rd, Croydon on July 2, 2022. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Officers place cannabis plants in bags following a raid in Pytchley Rd, Croydon on July 2, 2022. Picture; Kiel Egging.

Sgt Spencer said a 46-year-old Springvale man was spotted trying to escape out the back door of the home when police arrived on Friday night.

The man, who police allege was minding the crops, was arrested and questioned at Ringwood police station.

He has been charged with allegedly cultivating and trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis, and remanded to face court on Monday.

Sgt Spencer said rated the haul as one of the biggest in the outer east in recent months.

More than 300 cannabis plants were seized from a home in Pytchley Rd, Croydon on July 2, 2022. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“This is a significant dent in the local cultivation of cannabis in the Maroondah police service area, and one of the biggest (raids) we have done this year,” he said.

“More and more people are contacting Crime Stoppers these days about suspect activity in their street, and its only a matter of time before people get caught.”