Four men have been charged after police dismantled a sophisticated cannabis crop worth more than $10 million in Victoria's northwest.
Detectives from the Swan Hill Crime Investigation Unit, with assistance from multiple units, executed a search warrant at a rural property in Milnes Bridge, a small town between Cohuna and Kerang, on Tuesday 10 February.
Police uncovered 10 large greenhouses with varying quantities of mature plants inside.
Five people allegedly attempted to flee from the 324-acre property, with three allegedly jumping into an irrigation channel in an attempt to get away.
Police arrested four men, aged 39, 41 and two aged 51, shortly after.
The men, who are foreign nationals, have since been charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis.
They faced Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and were remanded to appear again on 13 May.
A fifth man remains outstanding at this stage.
It took three days for investigators and forensic specialists from the Botany Unit to dismantle the illicit crop houses.
Approximately 4700 plants - weighing more than two and a half tonnes - were removed from the property.
They will be destroyed following forensic examination by a botanist.
Police also seized electronic devices, CCTV hardware and items allegedly used to bypass electricity.
Other units that assisted include the Western Region Crime Squad, Mildura Divisional Response Unit and local uniform police.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Matt Pascoe, Mildura and Swan Hill Investigation and Response Manager:
"Anytime we're able to remove significant quantities of illicit drugs from the streets is a win for community safety.
"We know the cultivation and trafficking of drugs is what fuels organised crime groups.
"Police remain committed to targeting those in the production of illicit drugs and those involved in this activity should know we have you in our sights.
"This investigation remains ongoing and we implore anyone with information to come forward to police."
