Drug and Organised Crime Detectives have uncovered a cannabis growing operation in the rural area.
Detective Superintendent Tony Fuller said a 48 year-old man was arrested yesterday after search warrants were executed on several properties earlier this week. The man was charged with:
·Supply cannabis - commercial quantity
·Cultivate cannabis - Trafficable quantity
·Cultivate cannabis
·Possess cannabis - Commercial quantity x 2
·Unlawful appropriation of power x 2
·Possess / Use firearm whilst unlicensed
·Fail to meet storage requirements
He was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Magistrates Court on April 24th.
“Police will allege the man has been growing cannabis for supply in an elaborate hydroponics grow room on his property in Howard Springs. Further investigations have revealed a second cannabis hydroponics room, identical to the first, on another property in Acacia.”
Detective Superintendent Fuller said there was also the alleged theft of power to run the growing rooms and numerous unregistered firearms found during the execution of the search warrants.
“Police have seized a total of eight firearms including a world war two era ‘Luger’ pistol.”
This is the second arrest arising from Operation Hester. A total of 2 Hydroponics grow rooms, 10 large cannabis plants and 2,923 grams of cannabis plant material has been seized. The operation is on-going.
