Detectives from the Major Drug Squad have arrested eight people and seized over 1.4 tonnes of cannabis as part of an investigation into an Asian organised crime syndicate allegedly cultivating large commercial quantities of cannabis in regional Victoria.
With assistance from the Special Operations Group, Air Wing, Western Region Crime Squad and Brimbank Divisional Response Unit, warrants were executed this week at two large rural properties in Dunluce and Kamarooka, as well as residential addresses in Deer Park and Maryborough.
Just after 9am on Wednesday morning (29 November), with the assistance of the Air Wing, the Special Operations Group roped into a remote property on Bealiba South Road in Dunluce.
The property is approximately 13 acres in size.
A number of greenhouses had been erected on the property containing almost 1400 cannabis plants (weighing approximately 800kg) at various stages of maturity.
Infrastructure was also in place to support the cultivation of cannabis, including freshly dug large dams, irrigation and pumps around the property as well as a large number of solar panels and a generator.
Two male Vietnamese nationals, a 32-year-old and 42-year-old, were both charged with cultivate large commercial quantity of cannabis.
They were remanded to appear at Bendigo Magistrates' Court on 6 March, 2024.
Around 10am, detectives from the Major Drug Squad and Brimbank Divisional Response Unit executed a warrant at a residential address on Station Road in Deer Park.
Three Vietnamese nationals, a 47-year-old man, a 54-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman were all interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
A small hydroponic set up was located in the garage at the property and approximately 250 cannabis plants were seized.
Just after 1pm, the Special Operations Group again roped into a 100-acre property on Bendigo-Tennyson Road in Kamarooka.
A number of greenhouses had also been erected in the property which contained over 1800 cannabis plants (weighing approximately 600kg) in various stages of maturity.
Similar infrastructure was in place to that located at Dunluce, however the electricity was connected to the grid and the metre had been bypassed.
With assistance from the Country Fire Authority, all of the plants were burned on site.
Three Vietnamese nationals at the address, a 29-year-old man, a 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were all charged with cultivate large commercial quantity of cannabis.
The trio was remanded to appear at Bendigo Magistrates' Court on 6 March, 2024.
On Monday, 27 November, investigators from Central Goldfields Crime Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at a Box Street address in Maryborough.
A sophisticated hydroponic set up was located, and police seized over 250 cannabis plants at varying stages of maturity.
Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan, Organised Crime Division:
"The arrest of eight people and the seizure of over $11m worth of illicit drugs is an enormous win for these regional communities.
"Drugs are a significant driver of crime and community harm across the state and remain a strong focus for Victoria Police.
"These properties are incredibly remote and there were a number of sophisticated measures in place in an attempt to remain undetected by authorities.
"Organised crime entities living in rural parts of the state who think their distance from the city affords them anonymity or impunity - you are sadly mistaken. You will be held to account no matter where you are. It is as simple as that."
