$1.3m cannabis haul taken off streets

By Nicole Williams
CANNABIS with a street value over $1.3 million has been seized by police during three raids in Greater Dandenong last week.
Officers from Dandenong Tasking Unit executed warrants on three houses last Tuesday and Wednesday, discovering huge hydroponic set-ups and arresting one man.
A home in Buckley Street, Noble Park was raided just after 11am on Tuesday 18 September and officers found hydroponic cannabis plants in eight rooms of the house.
Dandenong Tasking Unit Sergeant Laurie McCaughey said the property was being used as a grow house.
“Three hundred and twenty-seven plants were seized with a street value estimated at more than $1 million,” he said.
Police also seized $30,000 worth of hydroponic equipment from the home, which was stealing electricity to power the huge set-up.
No arrests were made but Sgt McCaughey said police were still investigating.
The following day, the tasking unit also executed a warrant on a property in Springfield Road, Springvale South around 6.40pm on Wednesday 19 September.
Sgt McCaughey said police seized 102 hydroponic cannabis plants, with a street value of more than $300,000.
Police also seized hydroponic equipment worth $15,000.
The same night, a second warrant was executed on a Westall Road property where a small amount of cannabis was found as well as documents relating to cannabis cultivation.
A 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with cultivation of a commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking, possession and theft of electricity.
He was remanded in custody.
It is not believed the two properties were linked.