Hippies cash in on joint ventures

[OZ Stoners]

A MONSTER 4m marijuana plant was among the crops destroyed as police revealed hippies are using dope proceeds to fund their lifestyles.        

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Police reveal hippie communes are using proceeds from plantations to fund their lifestyle

• by: MARK MORRI crime EDITOR
• February 05, 2014 12:00AM

 

A MONSTER 4m high marijuana plant was among thousands being grown by hippy communes in the state's national parks to fund their lifestyles.

Drug squad officers have found a large number of crops next to communes dotted around the nsw north coast.

Small plantations of 100 plants can make the growers up to $250,000 dollars - more than enough to sustain them.

"Many of the crops are found next to what we call MO's or multiple occupancy dwellings or properties which are old fashion communes," NSW drug squad boss detective superintendent nick Bingham said.

"It's not a coincidence. A mature plant is worth about $2500."

The 4m plant, worth more than $5000, was found in a clearing near Uki in the Tweed region, not far from Nimbin.

Every year the drug squad embark on search and destroy missions throughout the state.

"The aim of the eradication program is more about disrupting and denying drug dealers income," said detective Bingham

"Many cannabis plantations are used to fund other criminal activities such as drug importations."

The drug squad began the first operation of the year in the tweed area near the NSW Queensland border.

Aerial surveillance and local intelligence reports are used to spot plantations.

"The days of major plantations are pretty much over," said Detective Bingham.

"Crooks realise they are easier to spot from the air and, when detected, losses from theft are significant so they have multiple crops all over the place hoping that some will go undetected."

He said it was not just locals involved trying to have a little cash on the side.

"Bikie gangs and organised crime syndicates are heavily involved. Cannabis is still the most widely used illegal drug in the country.

"By disrupting the supply the price is pushed ap and hopefully reduces affordability and usage of the drug and denies cash to criminals.

 

http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2014/02/05/1226818/186015-db6c3c66-8d61-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

Officers from the NSW Drug Squad conduct the 2014 Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) near Uki on the NSW far north coast. Officers tag and load a 4 meter high plant seized from a nearby commune Source: News Limited

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/003102-d9b6843a-8d61-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

NSW Drug Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Alex Dipple removes some cannabis plants from a remote property / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News LimitedSource: News Limited

 

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/002901-de581012-8d61-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

Officers from the NSW Drug Squad conduct the 2014 Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) near Uki on the NSW far north coast / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News Limited

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/002958-e0dafc5a-8d61-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

NSW Drug Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Alex Dipple removes some cannabis plants from a remote property / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News Limited

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/003450-05c58ddc-8d62-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

Officers from the NSW Drug Squad conduct the 2014 Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) near Uki on the NSW far north coast / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News Limited

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/004068-0bb40e4e-8d62-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

NSW Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke removes some cannabis plants / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News Limited

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/004562-0e1c8382-8d62-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

Of Former NSW Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham, right, watches on as the new NSW Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke removes some cannabis plants / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News Limited

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/02/04/1226818/004124-3a114ab8-8d62-11e3-836d-02ea2adb9f0a.jpg

Officers from the NSW Drug Squad conduct the 2014 Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) near Uki on the NSW far north coast / Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: News LimitedSource: News Limited

[brick]

Yeah they got rid of the 4 mtr plant that looked like it was full of mould. Great work fellas, probably saved a shit load of plants from getting mouldy.

 

Fucking morons think if the price goes up it will make sales drop off. Lucky they aren't running the countries economics.

[Vape]

Poor Hippies! 

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/police-reveal-hippie-communes-are-using-proceeds-from-plantations-to-fund-their-lifestyle/story-fnii5s3y-1226818004234

 

 

stupid war on drugs!!   its a plant....

 

go find a Meth lab FFS

[louise]

Nick fucking Bingham again... wouldn't know a meth lab if there was one in his bathroom.

[louise]

How does finding crops 'reveal[ed] hippies are using dope proceeds to fund their lifestyles'?

 

I grow a hell of a lot of zucchinis... more than any one person could ever hope to consume during the season.

 

Does it mean I am selling them into the black veggie market to fund my lifestyle?

[Faith]

I would like a mainstream "journalist" to ask the question "why are you trying to stop people from using this plant?"  I mean, when the UN line come through concerning the terrible dangers-then hit them with the truth and numerous benefits of the plant and gauge  the dick's response.  Shine it right in his eyes and watch them crumble.  Show them the statistics maybe how many humans die from peanuts or something contrasting it with the cannabis  'OD' figures-remove the figures wher cannabis was used in conjunction with another substance-piss included.   Just thinking out loud but It would be really nice to have fearless journalism.

 

Peace all. v

Edited February 5, 2014 by Faith

[brick]

The funny thing about this is that the do it every year and it obviously doesn't deter people.

 

Such a waste of money. Money that could be spent helping people get off hard drugs and getting their life back.

[Faith]

Yeah they got rid of the 4 mtr plant that looked like it was full of mould. Great work fellas, probably saved a shit load of plants from getting mouldy.

 

Fucking morons think if the price goes up it will make sales drop off. Lucky they aren't running the countries economics.

The ones who tell them what to do are though brick.

 

Peace. v

[brick]

The ones who tell them what to do are though brick.

 

Peace. v

True mate so true! my bad for not thinking straight

Edited February 5, 2014 by brick

[Faith]

You think straight enough brick mate

Peace. v