A $10 million cannabis crop has been dismantled by Victoria Police near Cohuna, with a similar bust occurring this week near Deniliquin. Pictured is aerial footage of the Milnes Bridge crop houses. Photo: Victoria Police.
Four foreign nationals have been charged after two and a half tonnes of cannabis, worth an estimated $10 million, was seized near Cohuna by Victoria Police.
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Detectives from the Swan Hill Crime Investigation Unit, with assistance from multiple units, executed a search warrant at a rural property at Milnes Bridge on Tuesday, February 10.
Police found 10 large greenhouses with varying quantities of mature plants inside on the 324-acre property, prompting five people to allegedly attempt to flee.
Three people allegedly jumped into an irrigation channel while trying to escape police, and four men, aged 39, 41 and two aged 51, were arrested shortly after.
The men have since been charged with cultivating and trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis.
They faced Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 11, and were remanded to appear again on May 13.
A fifth man remained outstanding as of Friday, February 13.
Detective Acting Inspector Matt Pascoe said police were committed to targeting those producing illicit drugs.
“Anytime we’re able to remove significant quantities of illicit drugs from the streets is a win for community safety,” he said.
“We know the cultivation and trafficking of drugs is what fuels organised crime groups.”
It took three days for investigators and forensic specialists from the Botany Unit to dismantle the illicit crop houses, which held around 4700 plants.
The raid followed a similar operation near Deniliquin this week, where a separate large-scale cannabis farm worth around $10 million was raided by NSW Police.
NSW Police at a cannabis farm in Neimur, around 80km north-west of Deniliquin. Photo: NSW Police.
Four people were arrested at the Neimur property by officers attached to Murray River Police District, and around 5000 cannabis plants were seized.
They were charged with cultivate prohibited plant not less than the large commercial quantity and possess prohibited plant not less than the large commercial quantity.
All were refused bail, and appeared at Deniliquin Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 12.
Victoria Police’s investigation into the Milnes Bridge operation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
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