by The alleged director of a large-scale cannabis cultivation and supply syndicate has been arrested at a unit in Sydneys inner west, while thousands of cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of more than $5.8 million have been seized from a semi-rural property.
Drug squad detectives began investigating outdoor cannabis cultivation across Sydney in April 2020 as part of Strike Force Hyperion.
A total of 2379 cannabis plants, estimated to be worth more than $7.1 million, were seized at a property near Campbelltown in February and five men, aged between 29 and 49, were charged.
Riot squad officers joined detectives and local police about 6am on Tuesday to raid a unit at Rhodes.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and taken to Burwood police station, where he was charged with eight offences including two counts of cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant, being cannabis, and knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group.
Police will allege in court that the man directed the activities of an organised criminal syndicate involved in the large-scale cultivation and supply of cannabis across the state, NSW Police said in a statement.
Detectives have charged four people, including the alleged director of a criminal syndicate, and seized cannabis worth nearly $6 million following a targeted police operation across Sydney.Credit:NSW Police
He was due to face Burwood Local Court later on Tuesday.
A semi-rural property at Schofields, in the citys north-west, was searched a short time after the arrest. Detectives allegedly located and seized 2080 cannabis plants, with an estimated potential street value of more than $5.8 million.
