Queensland detectives have seized approximately 100 cannabis plants from a set of shipping containers acting as grow rooms in a large-scale black market cannabis operation.
Detectives executed search warrants on four properties in the Noosa area on April 29th. This included properties on Lysaght Street (Coolum Beach), Straker Street (Cooroy), Bellbird Drive (Peregian Springs), and Leo Alley Drive (Noosaville).
Police located four shipping containers containing roughly 100 cannabis plants at the Leo Alley Drive business offering pool restoration. Each shipping container was fitted with lights, fans, and grow equipment suitable for cultivating cannabis.
According to Detective Sergeant Tim Byrnes, there was seven total cannabis grow rooms in the Leo Alley business.
We will allege this was a syndicate dedicated to the commercial illicit growing of hydroponic cannabis and trafficking.
In total, police seized 27 kilograms of “wet” cannabis, grow equipment (including lights and electrical appliances), and several cryovac bags full of dried cannabis. Police did not reveal how much the dried cannabis weighed, though they have valued both the wet and dry cannabis at over $100,000.
Officers also arrested four people and charged them with a total of 11 offences. This includes:
- A 38-year-old man from Cooroy was charged with two counts of producing a dangerous drug, and one count each of drug trafficking, cannabis possession, and possessing items in connection with a drug offence
- A 27-year-old man from Coolum Beach was charged with possessing a drug utensil, possessing cannabis, and two counts of producing a dangerous drug
- A 25-year-old woman from Eumundi was charged with producing dangerous drugs
- A 36-year-old man from Noosaville was charged with cannabis possession but was directed to a drug diversion program
The 38-year-old, 27-year-old, and 25-year-old will face Noosa Magistrates Court on June 1st.
The search warrants executed on Thursday are part of an ongoing drug operation that Noosa police dubbed “Operation Romeo Rhino”. Police will destroy the cannabis plants and will continue Operation Romeo Rhino.
