Police in New South Wales have uncovered a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis operation inside a residential house, resulting in serious charges against a 60-year-old man.
Major Drug Bust in Bolton Point
Officers discovered 83 mature cannabis plants growing across five separate rooms of a Bolton Point property in Lake Macquarie, south of Newcastle. The raid occurred around 12:30pm on Monday after authorities received information about suspicious activity at the residence.
The house had been completely converted into what police described as a large-scale cannabis growing laboratory. Each of the five rooms contained multiple plants at various stages of maturity, all maintained through an elaborate hydroponic system.
Illegal Electricity Diversion Uncovered
During the investigation, electricians discovered that the property's power had been illegally diverted to bypass the electricity meter. This common tactic used in grow-house operations allows criminals to avoid massive electricity bills that would normally draw attention to their activities.
According to the Crime Stoppers website, electricity diversion poses significant safety risks to the community and represents substantial financial loss to energy providers. The sophisticated setup found in the Bolton Point house suggests the operation had been running for some time.
Court Proceedings and Charges
The 60-year-old male resident was arrested at the scene and charged with multiple offences including:
- Diverting/using electricity without authority
- Enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for a commercial purpose
- Cultivating cannabis (greater than indictable but less than commercial quantity)
The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Tuesday. Police have indicated their investigation continues and further charges may be forthcoming.
This case highlights the ongoing challenge authorities face in detecting and dismantling sophisticated drug operations operating within residential communities. The combination of commercial-scale cannabis cultivation and dangerous electricity tampering represents what police describe as a growing trend in regional NSW.
