Above: Detectives bag some of the hundreds of cannabis plants found at a Dandenong North property.
By Nicole Williams
A RUN-OF-THE-MILL electrical fire led police to uncover an extraordinary stash of about 1000 cannabis plants concealed inside a residential house in Dandenong North.
The powerline to the Bellbrook Drive home caught alight on Monday night and CFA officers attended the small fire at 8.50pm, leading firefighters to break down the door and uncover the sophisticated hydroponic set-up.
The double-storey house, with up to 10 rooms, was filled with hundreds of cannabis plants at various stages of maturity.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Matt Hunt from Dandenong Crime Investigation Unit said the ordinary house was a front for the enormous cannabis farm.
“You look at the premises and it’s just an ordinary house but it’s a facade,” he said.
“What’s inside stunned us.”
“The only way I can describe is that it’s not a house but a warehouse. It’s a very elaborate set-up.”
The street value of the plants is still being verified but it is estimated at up to $2 million.
Det Leading Sen Const Hunt said they didn’t believe anyone was living in the house as there were plants in every room except the kitchen.
Neighbour, Pushpa Perera, said she saw police and firefighters at the house on Monday night and Tuesday morning but was stunned when she found out what was going on behind closed doors.
“I saw it on the news and all I thought was ‘Oh my god’,” she said.
“I’ve never really seen anyone there.”
Mrs Perera said the house was usually very quiet, with few people coming and going and when the residents rarely visited the house, they quickly disappeared.
“People just drive into the garage and shut the door,” she said.
“I always thought it a little suspicious that no-one was living there but I had no idea what was going on.”
Police have not determined who owned or resided in the property and are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
