Northern Grampians police detectives charged two men who were allegedly caught attempting to move a cannabis haul under threat from bushfires in Victoria’s west on Christmas Eve.
Police responded to reports of three trucks spotted in fire-evacuated areas of White Patch Road, Moyston about 4pm on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
Upon arrival, officers found a truck abandoned near Wilde Lane and Bowen Mine roads.
Police were surprised when they opened the rear doors of the truck to reveal a load of mature cannabis plants allegedly.
A second truck was found by police parked near the intersection of Wilde Lane and Moyston-Dunkeld Road, with two occupants in the cab.
Police allegedly located and seized a quantity of growing mix and keys to the first truck.
Police arrested the pair. Shortly after a third truck was located at the intersection of Moyston-Willaura Road and Moyston-Dunkeld Road where it’s alleged further cannabis plants were located inside.
The three trucks were seized and safely stored until the fire threat had passed.
Officers then executed a search warrant at a residence on White Patch Road, Moyston where they allegedly located a large quantity of cannabis plants on Wednesday, December 25.
Detectives charged a 36-year-old Deer Park man and a 37-year-old Sunshine West man with cultivating a commercial quantity of a narcotic plant, cultivating a narcotic plant and dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
The pair have been remanded to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
The investigation remains ongoing.
