Shocking discovery in a seemingly ordinary barn tucked away on a quiet Queensland farm
More than $60 million in cannabis has been seized by police following a massive drug bust on two rural Queensland farms.
Detectives from the Drug and Serious Crime Group charged 11 people on Friday and Saturday after searching properties in Coonambula and Mount Maria.
The raids were part of Operation Victor Alon, a lengthy investigation into an alleged “sophisticated criminal syndicate” that used remote Queensland properties to grow commercial amounts of cannabis.
It is alleged that the syndicate distributes its stock all over Australia.
Last Friday, officers executed a search warrant at an estate in Coonambula, 300 km northwest of the Sunshine Coast in the North Burnett region of the state.
Police arrested 11 people after finding greenhouses reportedly full of cannabis plants on two rural properties in Queensland (Photo: The greenhouses on the Coonambula estate)
They are said to have discovered 11 greenhouses containing 4932 cannabis plants, including seedlings and mature plants, as well as dried and drying cannabis.
The seized drugs have an estimated value of $24.7 million.
Agents also seized drug production equipment.
Three Victorian men aged 30, 55 and 38 and a 41-year-old Bundaberg man were arrested.
They were each charged with producing dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of anything used in the commission of a crime, and possession of anything for use in the commission of a crime.
The men have been remanded in custody and will appear before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on October 3.
A fifth man was arrested Saturday after arriving at the property in a vehicle allegedly carrying more drug equipment.
Police reportedly seized more than $60 million worth of cannabis during Friday and Saturday arrests (pictured, cannabis growing in one of Mount Maria’s greenhouses)
Officers reportedly found 15 “sophisticated, purpose-built hydroponic greenhouses” (above) on a property near Mount Maria
The 39-year-old man from Queensland was charged with producing dangerous drugs and possessing anything for use in committing a crime.
He was remanded in custody and will appear before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 24.
That Saturday, officers also raided a property on Mount Maria, 70 miles south of Gladstone in Central Queensland.
The alleged agents found 15 “sophisticated, purpose-built hydroponic greenhouses,” 6,189 cannabis plants, and 564.23 kg of dried cannabis on the property.
They also allegedly found a large amount of drug equipment and a small amount of cocaine.
The seized cannabis has an estimated value of $35.3 million.
Police allege six people working on the premises ran from officers into nearby bushland and scrub and had to be tracked down by the dog squad.
Police allege six people who worked on Mount Maria property fled from officers into nearby bushland and scrub (pictured, police arrest one of the men)
Officers reportedly found 564.23 kg of dried cannabis on the Mount Maria property (Photo: A room on the Mount Maria property)
Two Victorian men aged 48 and 45 and four New South Wales men aged 28, 30, 38 and 26 were arrested.
They have been charged with two counts of possession of dangerous drugs and one charge each of producing dangerous drugs, possession of anything for use in the commission of a crime, possession of anything used in the commission of a crime and possession of drug items.
The 28-year-old NSW man was taken into custody and will appear before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 17.
The other five men were also remanded in custody and their cases will be heard at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on October 3.
Drug and Serious Crime Group State Drug Squad Detective Inspector Bradley Phelps thanked the public for helping with the significant arrest.
Police allegedly found 11 greenhouses with 4932 cannabis plants (some of them above) on the Coonambula property
The 11 men arrested have all been taken into pre-trial detention with drug charges (photo, greenhouses on the Coonambula property)
“Information from the local community was vital in helping us investigate and successfully execute these orders and seize cannabis with a combined value of $60 million,” he said.
“While Queensland Police have a number of investigative methods, information from the public is crucial to helping us disrupt suspected criminal activity.
“We thank everyone who has provided us with information and call on anyone who knows anything, no matter how small, to come forward.”
Operation Victor Alon continues.