Officers attached to Police Transport Command (PTC) have charged five people and seized drugs with an estimated potential street value of more than $4 million, following an investigation in Sydney's south-west.
In June this year, PTC police commenced an investigation into the alleged cultivation of cannabis in the Yagoona area.
About 2.30pm on Thursday 5 December 2024, police were patrolling Wycombe Street, Yagoona, when they stopped a vehicle on Brodie Street, Yagoona, and arrested two men, aged 31 and 28.
When the vehicle was searched, a substance – alleged to be 2kg of methylamphetamine – was seized. The drugs have an estimated potential street value of $500,000.
The men were taken to Bankstown Police Station where the older man was charged with eight offences,
- Take part supply prohibited drug more than or equal to large commercial quantity (two counts)
- Knowingly take part-cultivate more than or equal to commercial quantity – cannabis
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime (two counts)
- Goods suspected stolen in/on premises,
- Owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises, and
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The younger man was also charged with eight offences,
- Supply prohibited drug more than or equal to large commercial quantity (two counts)
- Cultivate prohibited plant more than or equal to commercial quantity – cannabis
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime (two counts)
- Goods suspected stolen in/or premises
- Owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises, and
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
They were refused bail to appear Bankstown local court on Friday (6 December 2024), where they were again refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday (12 February 2025).
Following further inquiries, about 9.25pm on the same day, police executed a search warrant at a property on Wycombe Street, Yagoona, where they arrested two women, aged 29 and 55, and a 57-year-old man.
During the search, police seized more than 60kg of cannabis, 63 cannabis plants, a hydroponic setup and approximately $140,000 cash along with other items believed to be linked to the supply and cultivation of illegal drugs.
Police will allege the cannabis leaf has an estimated potential street value of more than $1.2m.
They were taken to Bankstown Police Station where the 29-year-old woman was charged with four offences,
- Supply prohibited drug more than or equal to commercial quantity
- Cultivate prohibited plant more than or equal to commercial quantity – cannabis
- Found on/entering/leaving drug premises, and
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The older woman and the man were both charged with six offences,
- Supply prohibited drug more than or equal to commercial quantity
- Cultivate prohibited plant more than or equal to commercial quantity – cannabis
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- Goods suspected stolen in/on premises
- Owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises, and
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The women appeared at Bankstown Local Court on Friday 6 December 2024, where they were granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday 12 February 2025.
The man also appeared in Bankstown Local Court on Friday 6 December 2024, where he was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Monday 9 December 2024. He has subsequently been granted conditional bail to appear at the same court on Wednesday 12 February 2025.
As a consequence of these inquiries, police executed search warrants at two premises on the state's South Coast.
Just after 1pm on Friday 6 December 2024, officers attached to South Coast Police District executed simultaneous search warrants at homes on Morton Parade and Burradoo Crescent in Nowra where police seized 196 cannabis plants and dismantled a hydroponic set up.
About 8.20am on last Wednesday (18 December 2024), officers attached to South Coast Police District executed a search warrant at an address on Elderberry Avenue, Worrigee, where they seized 231 cannabis plants along with hydroponic setup.
With the 490 cannabis plants – which have an estimated potential street value of almost $2.5 million – PTC police have seized prohibited drugs with an estimated potential street value of $4.2 million.
Inquiries into the cultivation of illegal drugs is continuing.
