NSW Police say a transnational organised crime network operating throughout Sydney’s south-west and the Illawarra has been “successfully disrupted” after an 11-month operation.
The operation began in December 2023 and led to the arrest of 19 people and the seizure of more than $80 million worth of cannabis.
State Crime Command Drug and Firearm Squad director Detective Superintendent John Watson revealed details about Strike Force Heradale in Parramatta today.
They were bringing in talent from overseas, Vietnam … with the sole purpose [to] cultivate cannabis but, more importantly, for profit.
“This has been a huge strike for law enforcement.”
Police said the investigation targeted the large-scale cultivation of cannabis by a criminal syndicate that had established multiple sophisticated hydroponic farms.
The syndicate was allegedly responsible for the production, packaging and distribution of cannabis on an industrial scale.
The first arrests happened in April this year, after police executed a search warrant at a property in Kemps Creek in Western Sydney, where they discovered over 4,400 cannabis plants in 16 purpose-built greenhouses.
Three people were arrested at the scene.
In May, police raided a property at Calderwood in Shellharbour, where 366 kilograms of harvested cannabis were seized.
Ten people, including six men and four women, were arrested.
A raid on another property at Bringelly in Greater Western Sydney in June uncovered 6,500 cannabis plants.
While no arrests were made at the time, officers returned to the same property in October. Police alleged the syndicate had re-established the cultivation of cannabis, and 7,472 plants with a street value of $22 million were seized.
One man was arrested while allegedly tending to the plants.
During another raid at a property in Rossmore in Western Sydney in September, police seized 4,000 plants and arrested three men.
Detective Superintendent Watson said a key breakthrough occurred in November when two men, alleged to be the main organisers of the syndicate, were arrested at a property in Canley Vale.
“At the time there was more than 220 kilos of cannabis head being packaged and more than $240,000 cash seized,” he said.
Both men were arrested and charged with a number of offences relating to the supply and cultivation of large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and knowingly directing and participating in a criminal group, and were refused bail at Fairfield Local Court.
“In total, 19 arrests, more than 23,000 cannabis plants, more than half a tonne of cannabis itself, 586 kilos has been seized, as a result of this operation,” Detective Superintendent Watson said.
He said it was large-scale industrial operation.
“What we saw with this particular syndicate … was a preparedness to run multiple sites at the one time and move their workforce throughout.
“There is no question in our mind that we had everyone that is actively in New South Wales — but the investigation continues we continue … this investigation is by no means over.”
21 November 2024
Source: ABC News
