Unexpected response to cops seeking kudos for busting a high-tech dope farm allegedly controlled by a 26-year-old: ‘I’m impressed’
- Cops seize $23.1 million worth of cannabis from Queensland property
- Bust represents ‘a significant disruption to an organised crime scene’
A massive cannabis farm that was smashed by police has drawn an unexpected reaction from Australians.
Drug squad detectives raided a farm in Coominya, in the Somerset region in south-east Queensland, on May 15 where they seized over $23million worth of cannabis and later arrested a 26-year-old man.
A video of the massive drug bust has provoked an unexpectedly hilarious response from many Aussies who praised the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ of the set-up.
Police found 19 70-metre-long greenhouses containing almost 3,000 cannabis plants, more than 1,500 seedlings in hydroponic growth rooms and almost 33kg of dried cannabis, with the total haul worth an estimated $23.1 million
‘I’m actually impressed with this young entrepreneur, great set up,’ one wrote on Twitter.
Another said they thought it was a feel-good story of ‘a young farmer bucking the trend and having a great year’.
‘Thought he would have put his hand up for Farmer Wants A Wife,’ they wrote.
One social media user questioned the difference between the illegal farm and those with a permit to grow marijuana for medical purposes.
‘The only difference between this and the pot startups on the ASX 200 is a permit.
‘Old mate mustn’t know the right billionaires to have as investors,’ they said.
Another added: ‘Just legalize it. Stupid outdated law.’
‘Don’t destroy it… use for medicinal purposes – GVT shld keep and repurpose!!’ one wrote.
Police found 19 70-metre-long greenhouses containing almost 3,000 cannabis plants, more than 1,500 seedlings in hydroponic growth rooms and almost 33kg of dried cannabis in the raid.
The total haul is worth an estimated $23.1 million.
No one was located on the property at the time of the search warrant.
Three days after the raid, cops arrested a 26-year-old man at a Heathwood property.
He has been charged with one count of producing a commercial quantity of the cannabis and is expected to appear at Richlands Magistrates Court on June 6.
Detective Inspector Brad Phelps described the farm as a ‘commercial-sized cannabis production facility’.
Detective Inspector Brad Phelps said police had raided a dozen similarly-sized farms in an investigation into a national drugs syndicate
‘What you need to remember with the production of cannabis – in particular hydroponic cannabis – is that it’s a cyclic process,’ he said.
‘This particular crop we can value at over $20 million on the street but they can produce three or four of these crops in any given year from the same site. It’s (the raid) a significant disruption to an organised crime scene.’
The massive bust is part of investigations into a national drug syndicate that is scouting and purchasing isolated farms in rural Queensland to grow cannabis on a large scale in order to distribute and sell the drug across Australia.
Police have so far raided a dozen similarly-sized farms.
‘We are working with a number of other jurisdictions to try to totally dismantle and destroy this particular syndicate and stop them from profiting out of the harm they are causing to the community,’ Detective Inspector Phelps said.
Police are still looking out for a number of other individuals and have encouraged the public to come forward with any information.
‘These production processes are extremely large,’ Detective Inspector Phelps said.
‘They take a lot of human and physical resources to establish and then continue to operate, so it’s very hard for them to do it without coming to the notice of the locals who live in these areas.’
