POLICE last week seized cannabis crops valued at more than $2.8 million from three homes across Wyndham, as part of a massive operation which smashed what they believe was one of Victoria’s largest drug syndicates.
On April 18, more than 250 police raided properties across Melbourne’s north-west and western suburbs as part of a seven-month investigation which uncovered an alleged organised crime syndicate with links to Vietnam.
More than 5200 plants, with an estimated street value of more than $20 million, were seized as part of the bust.
Earlier raids uncovered about $9 million worth of drugs.
Senior Sergeant George Vale, who led the raids, said more than 700 mature-age cannabis plants were removed from three homes – one at Tarneit and two neighbouring properties in Truganina.
“They were all relatively new homes, and they were all set up the same way,” he said.
The 400-plant-haul found at the Tarneit house was among the largest single yield discovered as part of the operation.
Detectives charged 14 people across the Brimbank, Melton and Hume area as a result of the raids.
Twelve men and two women were charged with a range of drug offences, including trafficking and cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis.
All will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal mention on July 31.
Divisional Acting Superintendent Stephen Mutton said police would continue to target people involved in the cultivation and distribution of illicit drugs.
“As a result of this operation we have been able to disrupt the activities of a significant and sophisticated organised crime syndicate operating in our state,” he said.
