Drug and Firearms Squad seize $2 million worth of cannabis from property outside of Bathurst

Drug and Firearms Squad seize $2 million worth of cannabis from property outside of Bathurst

DRAMATIC video of the police raid on a massive secret cannabis crop in the hills behind Bathurst shows the arrest of two men, two teenagers and almost 1000 plants seized.

The four people arrested in the raid include a 41-year-old Italian national and a 72-year-old Australian.

Detectives dressed in camouflage gear swooped on the rural property at Mount Rankin in central western NSW just after 9am on Thursday following a four-month investigation.

State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad had detected the large-scale cultivation of cannabis following extensive inquiries.

Officers located the huge crop site of 832 cannabis plants in various stages of maturity, and 130 harvested cannabis plants, which produced 60kg of cannabis head.

The total estimated potential street value of the plants and cannabis head is almost $2 million.

Two teenage boys and the two men were arrested at the crop site and taken to Bathurst Police Station.

Police charged the teenagers with cultivate commercial quantity of prohibited plant and commercial drug supply.

Both boys were refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Friday.

Police charged the Italian man with cultivate commercial quantity of prohibited plant and commercial drug supply.

The 72-year-old man was charged with cultivate commercial quantity of prohibited plant and commercial drug supply.

Both men were refused bail to appear at Lithgow Local Court on Friday.

Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter McErlain, praised investigators for their unwavering determination to reduce the impact of illicit drugs on the community.

“Our Cannabis Team has worked long and hard — in less than ideal conditions — throughout the growing season and prevented more than $16 million of cannabis from hitting the streets,” Superintendent McErlain said.

“This is in addition to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of other illicit substances seized by police around the state.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work all NSW Police officers are doing, not only in seizing drugs, but also in targeting those who are trying to get rich by inflicting pain and suffering on the community.

“There were three major police operations in metro, regional, and rural areas targeting drug suppliers yesterday, but we still need to tackle the issue of demand.

“We need the support and assistance of the community to break the cycle of addiction and stop these substances from being a plague on our community,” Superintendent McErlain said.