In a significant Australia cannabis bust, law enforcement authorities have dismantled a transnational organized crime network operating throughout Sydney’s southwest and the Illawarra region. The 11-month operation resulted in the arrest of 19 people and the seizure of over $80 million worth of cannabis.
The operation, known as Strike Force Heradale, began in December 2023. Led by the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad with assistance from the NSW Crime Commission, the investigation targeted the large-scale cultivation and distribution of cannabis by the syndicate.
Detective Superintendent John Watson announced the success of the operation, stating that police have “successfully disrupted a transnational organised crime syndicate operating within Australia.” He emphasized the scale of the Australia cannabis bust, noting it as a significant strike against illegal drug activities in the country.
The investigation involved multiple raids across various properties:
On April 3, 2024, officers executed a search warrant at a property in Kemps Creek, Western Sydney. They discovered 16 commercial-sized greenhouses containing over 5,400 cannabis plants, valued at approximately $18 million. Two men, aged 32 and 35, and a 41-year-old woman were arrested and charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and participating in a criminal group.
On May 29, 2024, a raid on a property in Calderwood, Shellharbour, led to the seizure of over 366 kilograms of harvested cannabis worth $4 million. Ten individuals, including six men and four women aged between 28 and 64, were arrested and charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.
Further raids were conducted:
- On June 7, 2024, at a property in Bringelly, where over 6,500 cannabis plants valued at $23 million were seized.
- On September 25, 2024, at a property in Rossmore, resulting in the seizure of 4,000 plants worth $12 million and the arrest of three men aged 30, 33, and 40.
- On October 10, 2024, a second search at the Bringelly property led to the seizure of 7,472 cannabis plants valued at $22 million and the arrest of a 61-year-old man.
A pivotal moment occurred on November 12, 2024, when two men, both aged 35, were arrested at a home in Canley Vale. Officers seized 220 kilograms of cannabis heads valued at over $2 million and $240,000 in cash. The men were charged with supplying and cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and directing a criminal group.
Detective Superintendent Watson highlighted the syndicate’s sophistication, stating that they were “well-organized and well-financed,” bringing in individuals from overseas specifically to cultivate cannabis for profit. He added that the total estimated street value of the seized cannabis exceeds $80 million, marking it as a “huge strike for law enforcement.”
This massive cannabis seizure underscores ongoing efforts by Australian authorities to combat large-scale illegal drug operations. The investigation is continuing, and police are determined to dismantle all elements of the syndicate to protect community safety.
For more information on law enforcement activities, visit the NSW Police News website.
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