Major Drug Squad detectives yesterday arrested two men as part of their investigation into the cultivation of large commercial quantities of cannabis by a Vietnamese organised crime syndicate.
With assistance from the VIPER Taskforce as well as the Springvale, Croydon, Box Hill and Morwell Divisional Response Units, seven warrants were executed at an industrial premises in Morwell, three residential addresses in Springvale, a residential address in Mount Waverley, a storage facility in Hallam and a semi-rural property in Silvan.
Over the course of the investigation over 8500 cannabis plants have been seized, which would have a street value of over $30M.
A 40-year-old Springvale man, who police will allege was the leader of the syndicate, was charged with cultivate and traffick large commercial quantity of cannabis.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 April.
A 53-year-old Noble Park man is expected to be charged on summons in relation to the offence of cultivate large commercial quantity of cannabis.
Over 200 plants, a large commercial quantity, were located at the Silvan address.
At least 400 plants being hydroponically cultivated were seized from the Morwell property.
Detectives also located a drying/packing location in Springvale which also had an electrical bypass.
No items were seized from the Mount Waverley address, but evidence of prior cannabis cultivation was located as well as an electrical bypass.
A transport truck was also seized which police will allege was used to transport property between crop locations.
Investigators executed a warrant at a storage facility in Hallam which was used to store hydroponic equipment.
This week’s activity follows one of Victoria’s largest cannabis hauls in recent times – more than 6000 plants were seized in Leongatha South on Tuesday, 22 October.
Plants located ranged from seedlings through to mature-sized plants weighing in at 1.7 tonnes.
Four men and one woman were arrested at the address and a sophisticated hydroponic set-up was discovered in several commercial-sized hot houses.
The five Vietnamese nationals arrested – aged 54, 51, 47, 35 and 25 – were all charged with cultivate and trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis.
They were remanded to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on 7 March 2025.
Anyone with information on illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Maddy McDermott
Media Unit
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