Raid nets cannabis plants

[Tom]

By

July 1, 2005

 

LAKE Illawarra Police raided a house at Primbee yesterday, seizing almost $350,000 worth of cannabis plants.

 

Detectives and drug squad police were among a dozen officers who descended on the Windang Rd property at noon, finding more than 170 cannabis plants growing in a sophisticated hydroponic set-up, in a specially designed room.

 

Last night police estimated the plants, which varied in size, were worth $348,000.

 

Acting Lake Illawarra Area commander, Acting Superintendent Mark Gallagher, said police had the house under surveillance overnight before the search, and it had been unoccupied the whole time.

 

After an agronomist examined the plants, it took police more than two hours to dismantle the hydroponic set-up and remove the 174 plants for disposal. Forensic police also gathered evidence at the scene.

 

Police swooped on the house after receiving information from the public and are now working to arrest the person or people responsible for growing the drugs.

 

Mr Gallagher said police did not believe the incident was related to another $500,000 crop discovered early last month at Albion Park Rail, but he did concede the specially designed drug houses were becoming more common.

 

"It's a way they have found to grow the cannabis and it seems to be more prevalent," Mr Gallagher said.

 

Author:GABRIELLE DUNLEVY

Date:July 1, 2005

Source:Illawarra Mercury

Copyright:© 2005 Illawarra Mercury