Victoria Police have uncovered a large-scale cannabis cultivation operation in the state's north-west, seizing 4,700 plants with an estimated street value of $10 million. The raid took place on Tuesday at a property in Milnes Bridge, between Kerang and Cohuna, where officers discovered 10 greenhouses containing the plants.
Five men, all foreign nationals, attempted to flee as police arrived. Three of them jumped into an irrigation channel, but four were apprehended and charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis. The fifth man remains on the run, last seen fleeing into bushland. Police have conducted thorough searches but have been unable to locate him.
Detective Inspector Pascoe said the operation took three days to dismantle, with forensic specialists examining the plants before they are destroyed. Officers also seized electronic devices, CCTV hardware, and items used to bypass electricity. The plants weighed more than 2.5 tonnes and varied in size and maturity.
The four arrested men faced Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and were remanded to appear again in May. Police said the men have been unhelpful in identifying the fifth suspect or providing details about their employer. Detective Inspector Pascoe urged anyone with information to come forward, stating, 'Any time we’re able to remove significant quantities of illicit drugs from the streets is a win for community safety.'
In a separate incident, NSW Police conducted a raid at Niemur, 90 kilometres north of Milnes Bridge, seizing 5,000 cannabis plants also valued at $10 million. Four men were charged in connection with that operation. Police are investigating whether the two operations are linked, though no obvious connections have been found yet.
