Cannabis worth an estimated $2.4 million has been discovered in a sophisticated indoor cultivation set-up after Wollongong police noticed 'suspicious activity' at an industrial premise in Flinders Street, Port Kembla.
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The two general duties officers were conducting patrols in the early hours of Friday morning when they allegedly discovered five men in industrial premises with about 570 cannabis plants.
The five man — aged 44, 41, 28, and two aged 24 — were arrested and have been charged with the cultivation of a large commercial quantity of cannabis.
A search revealed a further 616 cannabis plants at the premises and 110 kilograms of cannabis leaf. The total haul had an estimated street value of about $2.4 million.
Lake Illawarra LAC Commander, Superintendent Zoran Dzevlan, praised the actions of officers which led to the discovery.
"I've never seen such a sophisticated hydroponic enterprise," he said. "These results were not achieved by chance, but as a result of the old fashion instinctive traits that police officers have, together with dedicated and persistent police work."
Following investigations, police found another indoor cultivation operation at Doyle Avenue, Unanderra, where it is alleged the same criminal consortium were cultivating additional cannabis plants.
The men have been refused bail and will appear before Wollongong Local Court on Saturday.
