Cape cannabis bust
DRUG Squad detectives swooped on a massive cannabis crop after an anonymous tip led them to a remote Cape York plantation patrolled by an armed guard.
The crop, growing about three hours’ drive south of Bamaga and described as "very isolated" by police, had almost 1000 cannabis plants growing and the potential to field thousands more.
A tip-off from a local who had wandered by and saw an armed minder led to the raid late Thursday afternoon by Drug Squad detectives, Bamaga police and officers from Thursday
Island CIB.
A Bamaga man and a Townsville man, 63, were charged with major production of cannabis and various firearms offences after police raided the isolated
plantation.
One of the men was armed with a shotgun.
Police have alleged the pair, along with at least two other associates, had grown the crop and were planning on cultivating thousands more plants.
Drug Squad’s acting Det-Sen-Sgt Gary Hunter said the bust had disrupted the supply of the illicit drug trade throughout the region.
"It does look like it was going to be used to supply drugs throughout North Queensland," he said.
"But they have gone to extreme lengths to get their gear up there (to the Cape) and start up this operation. It was no half-baked effort."
About 860 cannabis plants were growing in pot plants under a greenhouse and shade shelters.
A large field had been cleared and prepared to be planted with thousands of cannabis plants.
Farming equipment including lawnmowers, rotary hoes, water pumps and chainsaws were also seized from the property.
Police believe the crop was being watered by a sophisticated pumping system drawing water from a nearby water source.
"They had obviously thought this out and carefully planned it out," Sen-Sgt Hunter said.
In late 2006, police smashed one of the Far North’s largest cannabis supply chains, seizing millions of dollars worth of drugs.
Operation Charlie Thatch exposed one of Australia’s largest cannabis ventures and resulted in more than 90 people nabbed on several hundred charges.
Police are still investigating if smaller ventures such as the Bamaga bust have started up to fill the void left by now imprisoned drug kingpins.
Copyright, The Cairns Post’
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Busted: Part of the large cannabis crop of about 1000 plants found on a remote area of the Cape by Drug Squad officers.
Camp site: The outback campsite where the drugs crops and growing equipment were found.
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