GOULBURN Police believe they’ve made another major dent in the local drug industry with the discovery of an estimated $1 million worth of cannabis.
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Numerous officers swooped on a property, 15km north of Bigga at 2pm Friday, armed with a search warrant, Sergeant Rob Post said.
They allegedly discovered 541 cannabis plants, with an approximate street value of $1,082,000.
A 60-year-old Bigga district man was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis and firearm offences. Police will allege they also found a semiautomatic rifle. He was refused bail by police on Friday and again by Goulburn Local Court during a bail hearing on Saturday.
The man will face Parramatta Local Court again on January 3. Sgt Post said the plants were in three plots on a secluded section of the 240-hectare property. Police claimed an efficient irrigation system, rigged with pipes and pumps was in use, and the plants were surrounded by web netting and shade cloth for protection.
An agronomist examined the plants and the Rural Fire Service was called in to burn them that afternoon. Sgt Post said the discovery would disrupt the cannabis supply as the plants were reaching a mature stage.
“The Goulburn Local Area Command and Goulburn Drug Unit are still chasing information on drug supply (generally) and we encourage the public to be forthcoming,” he said.
The Bigga discovery follows multiple local drug charges laid in December as part of Operation Oppy.
