Cannabis plants worth almost $58m have been seized from a property on the state's Far North Coast.
Strike Force Hyerpion was established by the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad to investigate cannabis cultivation across the state, with local police districts assisting with investigations and operations.
On Tuesday (22 February 2022), strike force officers – with assistance from Richmond Police District, Northern Rivers Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and PolAir – executed a crime scene warrant at a property in Ellangowan.
Investigators located 19 large greenhouses, 13 of which contained a large number of cannabis plants at varying stages of maturity.
Officers also located a large amount of cannabis seedlings inside a shed on the property.
Other items of interest were seized from the property for further forensic examination.
Police spent Tuesday and yesterday (Wednesday 23 February 2022), dismantling the greenhouses. The plants have been seized and will be destroyed.
In total, 16,559 cannabis plants were seized from the Ellangowan property, with an estimated street value of almost $58m.
No arrests have been made; however, investigations remain ongoing.
Anyone with information in relation to the cultivation and supply of cannabis is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
