Nabel Quzag, 22, and Moustafa Negro, 22, were part of a group of individuals arrested over a hidden hydroponic system, set up in an unoccupied house in Macgregor.

Police had the home under surveillance for some time, but the cannabis operation was uncovered after a flooding at the home in November 2012.

Officers responded to the flooding, and turned off the electricity.

But when the electricity went off, the lights stayed on.

They later discovered the electricity meter had been bypassed, and the home was sucking electricity untraced, straight off the grid.

Inside, police discovered a false wall in a garage.

They found 98 plants in the garage, as well as in various upstairs and downstairs bedrooms.

The cultivation was supported by liquid fertiliser, an irrigation system, and a network of lamps, shades, and filters.

The volume of plants was at the high range for the trafficable quantity, which goes to a maximum of 100 plants, and just under a commercial quantity.

Quzag and Negro were described as having minor roles with the grow house, and neither made any known financial gain from it.

Forensics linked Quzag with one of the bedrooms, and he was known to have gone into the garage twice.

Negro had a greater role, going to the home 21 times and helping to move plants around inside.

He was linked by forensics to three rooms.

Quzag was sentenced to 220 hours of community service and put on a good behaviour order for two years.

Negro was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, which was suspended. He will need to conduct 100 hours of community service and be of good behaviour for 18 months.

Both had limited criminal histories.