PLEASE NOTE: Images of the Douglas Park crop are available via hightail: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/YLQyZsNVuV
CORRECTION: The street value of the seized cannabis combined over the course of this investigation is $14m.
Three people have been charged after $5.6m worth of cannabis plants were seized in the state's Macarthur Region yesterday.
In February 2023, officers attached to Camden Police Area Command's Proactive Crime Team commenced investigations into the cultivation of cannabis on rural properties across the south-west metropolitan area.
As a result of the investigation so far, nine people have been arrested, and 3,342 plants and 240kg of cannabis bud – worth approximately $8.3m – has been seized.
As part of ongoing inquiries, about 1.40pm yesterday (Saturday 22 April 2023), investigators – with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad and Dog Squad – executed a search warrant at a property on Prices Road, Douglas Park.
On arrival, a 36-year-old man attempted to flee on foot into bushland but was arrested a short time later. A 52-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man were also arrested at the scene.
During a search of the property, police allegedly located 2,817 cannabis plants, 14 greenhouses, and equipment consistent with the manufacturing of cannabis.
With assistance from officers attached to Burwood, Fairfield, Bankstown and Campbelltown Police Area Commands, the crop was dismantled and destroyed.
The three people were taken to Narellan Police Station where they were charged with knowingly take part-cultivate >=large commercial quantity and found on/entering/leaving drug premises.
They were refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 23 April 2023).
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
