Three people have been arrested and charged after a multimillion-dollar weed bust southwest of Sydney.
Police raided a rural property on Prices Road, Douglas Park in the state’s Macarthur Region at about 1.40pm on Friday, with back up from the Public Order and Riot Squad and Dog Squad.
It’s alleged more than 2,800 cannabis plants (worth an estimated $5.6m), 14 greenhouses and equipment consistent with the manufacturing of cannabis was found at the scene.
NSW Police say a 36-year-old man attempted to flee on foot into bushland but was arrested a short time later. A 52-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man were also arrested.
Police will allege the group knowingly took part in cultivating a large commercial quantity of illicit drugs, which can carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and/ or a $550,000 fine.
The group have also been charged with allegedly being found on, entering, or leaving a drug premises.
The trio were refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Court on Sunday.
Saturday’s raid follows a two-month long investigation into the cultivation of cannabis on rural properties across the southwest Sydney area.
Police said more than 3,300 plants and 240kg of cannabis bud – worth approximately $8.3m – have been seized with a further nine people arrested.
In NSW, cannabis can only legally be used and supplied under the prescription of a doctor, with recreational use prohibited under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985.
It is also illegal to possess drug paraphernalia used to ingest cannabis, like bongs.
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