In a significant operation, Queensland police have arrested eleven individuals following raids at properties in Coonambula and Mount Maria. The raids resulted in the seizure of approximately $60 million worth of cannabis plants, dried cannabis products, and drug production equipment.
On July 28, officers discovered 11 greenhouses containing nearly 5,000 cannabis plants, along with dried and drying cannabis, at the Coonambula property in North Burnett. Three men from Victoria and one from the Bundaberg region were charged with drug offenses and taken into custody. They are set to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on October 3. The following day, a fifth man was apprehended as he arrived at the Coonambula property in a car containing drug equipment.
On July 29, police conducted a search at a Mount Maria property in the Gladstone region, where they found 15 sophisticated hydroponic greenhouses specifically designed for cannabis cultivation. More than 6,000 cannabis plants and over 560 kilograms of dried cannabis, along with a small amount of cocaine, were seized. During the operation, six individuals fled into nearby scrub and bushland but were later captured by the dog squad and taken into custody.
One of the suspects, a 28-year-old man from New South Wales, is expected to appear in court on August 17. The remaining five men, two from Victoria and two from New South Wales, will have their cases heard on October 3.
Detective Inspector Bradley Phelps of the Drug and Serious Crime Group State Drug Squad emphasized the significance of these seizures and credited the local community for providing crucial information that assisted in executing the warrants and confiscating the illicit substances and equipment.
