Four Sydney men have been charged after police seized nearly $13 million worth of cannabis and uncovered a syndicate operating hydro houses across Sydney’s southwest.
In July 2019, the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission established Strike Force Riche to investigate a criminal syndicate involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering.
Police have charged 12 people so far.
During their investigation, detectives uncovered a remote property in Sydney’s west being used for the cultivation of cannabis.
Detectives raided a property in Kemps Creek on Aug. 25 and found 31 greenhouses on the property, four of which contained equipment for cultivating cannabis.
In the four large-scale grow houses, investigators seized 4297 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $12.89 million.
Strike Force Riche detectives also seized $3690 cash.
Four men, aged 19, 23, 26 and 41, were arrested at the property and charged with cultivating prohibited a plant (large commercial quantity) and participating in a criminal group.
Police say the 19-year-old was also involved in the large-scale cultivation of cannabis at a property in Gibberagee, where nearly $22 million worth of cannabis was seized in June.
The men were refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday Aug. 26.
