MILNES BRIDGE, VIC. — 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 executed a search warrant at a rural property in Milnes Bridge, a small town between Cohuna and Kerang, on Tuesday, February 10.
Police uncovered 10 large greenhouses with varying quantities of mature cannabis plants inside, Detective Acting Inspector Matt Pascoe told the media.
“Anytime we’re able to remove significant quantities of illicit drugs from the streets is a win for community safety,” Det. Acting Insp. Pascoe said.
Five people allegedly attempted to flee from the 324-acre property, with three allegedly jumping into an irrigation channel in an attempt to evade arrest.
Police soon arrested four men, aged 39, 41 and two aged 51.
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 the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and were remanded to appear again on May 13.
A fifth man remains outstanding.
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 included the Western Region Crime Squad, Mildura Divisional Response Unit and local uniform police.
NSW Police also seized 5,000 cannabis plants with a potential value of $10 million during a major police operation in the state’s south.
Victoria or NSW Police have not confirmed if the two cannabis crop operations are linked.
“This investigation remains ongoing and we implore anyone with information to come forward to police,” Det. Acting Insp. Pascoe said.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
