Police find huge groves of Marijuana worth $14 million 

A crop of more than 7200 cannabis plants worth $14 million have been seized by police during a series of coordinated bush raids.

The Drug and Firearms Squad smashed drug supply rings across country NSW by dismantling major drug operations, charging 29 people in the process.

Detective Superintendent Peter McErlain says the Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) has been a successful strategy for reducing the availability of prohibited drugs, in time for the Northern Regional Enforcement Squad to be launched next month. 

In recent weeks The Daily Telegraph has accompanied teams of ­officers as they drove to remote locations and waited for PolAir to spot crops and direct them to large sites. 

 Police have seized more than 7200 cannabis plants worth $13 million during a series of coordinated bush raids in region NSW

 Just over 7000 cannabis plants and we've stopped potentially $14 million lining the pockets of organised crime in NSW

 Just over 7000 cannabis plants and we’ve stopped potentially $14 million lining the pockets of organised crime in NSW

The Cannabis Eradication Program began in the 1980s and targets outdoor cannabis crops in the warmer months of the year

The Cannabis Eradication Program began in the 1980s and targets outdoor cannabis crops in the warmer months of the year

Detectives worked with local police, PolAir, the Dog Unit and other specialist units. 

‘It was a great joint effort with local police, PolAir, the dog squad and local detectives,’ Mr McErlain said. 

‘The Cannabis Eradication Program has been very successful this year.

‘We’ve seized just over 7000 cannabis plants and we’ve stopped potentially $14 million lining the pockets of organised crime in NSW.’

Police have charged 29 people who will face various drug and firearm charges which all carry severe penalties to all involved

Police have charged 29 people who will face various drug and firearm charges which all carry severe penalties to all involved

Criminals are growing their cannabis crops in secret locations in remote bushlands as police continue to hunt them down

Criminals are growing their cannabis crops in secret locations in remote bushlands as police continue to hunt them down

Northern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) launching next month will work to reduce the impact of drug and gun crime in the region

Northern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) launching next month will work to reduce the impact of drug and gun crime in the region

The Daily Telegraph reports that criminals are aware of helicopters spotting their operations which is leading them to grow their crops in more secret locations which may involve trekking through thick bush scrubs for many kilometres. 

Many of the crops seized were growing in dense bushland with crop sizes ranging from just a few plants to several hundred.

In the past few weeks the Drugs and Firearms Squad have dismantled major drug operations and charged 29 people in the process.

‘They will be facing various drug and firearm charges which all carry severe penalties,’ Mr McErlain said. 

Criminals are aware of helicopters spotting their operations which is leading them to grow their crops in secret locations

Criminals are aware of helicopters spotting their operations which is leading them to grow their crops in secret locations

The Drugs and Firearms Squad have dismantled major drug operations which were growing in bushland in country NSW

The Drugs and Firearms Squad have dismantled major drug operations which were growing in bushland in country NSW

The Northern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) launching next month will collaborate with the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad to reduce the impact of drug and gun crime in the region. 

Mr McErlain anticipates the intelligence developed from the Cannabis Eradication Program will kick RES off to a great start.

‘Drugs could be potentially used by organised crime to reinvest into violence, firearms and more drugs.

‘These drugs and criminal enterprises are directly threatening the safety of the NSW community and with all the intelligence we’ve developed from the operation the RES will be off to a great start. 

The Cannabis Eradication Program began in the 1980s and targets outdoor cannabis crops in the warmer months of the year. 

In the program’s lifetime an estimated potential street value of cannabis worth more than $360 million has been seized.

The Cannabis Eradication Program  has seized an estimated potential street value of cannabis worth more than $360 million 

The Cannabis Eradication Program  has seized an estimated potential street value of cannabis worth more than $360 million 



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