Detectives from the Drug and Serious Crime Group have charged 11 people and seized a total of approximately $60 million of cannabis following two search warrants at rural properties at Coonambula and Mount Maria.
Operation Victor Alon is a protracted investigative operation, targeting an alleged sophisticated criminal syndicate utilising isolated Queensland properties to produce commercial quantities of cannabis to allegedly distribute across Australia.
Significant investigations identified two properties – one at Coonambula in the North Burnett, and a second at Mount Maria in the Gladstone region.
On Friday July 28, officers from Drug and Serious Crime Group, Wide Bay Tactical Crime Squad, Maryborough Criminal Investigation Branch, Mundubbera Police, Gayndah Police with assistance from specialist forensic and scientific officers executed a search warrant at Coonambula.
It will be alleged 11 greenhouses were located measuring 50 metres in length and 9 metres in width, containing 4932 cannabis plants ranging from seedlings to full maturity, along with a quantity of dried and drying cannabis.
The cannabis seized at this property has an estimated value of $24.7 million.
A further quantity of drug production equipment were seized.
Four people were taken into custody at the scene without incident.
A 30-year-old man, 55-year-old man and 38-year-old man, all from Victoria and a 41-year-old Avenell Heights man have been charged with one count each of producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime and possessing anything for use in the commission of crime.
The four men were remanded in custody, for their matters to next be heard before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on October 3.
The following day, a fifth man was taken into custody after arriving to the property in a vehicle allegedly carrying further drug equipment and resources.
A 39-year-old Urangan man has been charged with producing dangerous drugs and possessing anything for use in the commission of crime. He was remanded in custody, for his matter to next be heard before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 24.
On Saturday July 29, officers from the Drug and Serious Crime Group, Gladstone Tactical Crime Squad, Gladstone and Bundaberg Criminal Investigation Branches alongside Agnes Water Police, Miriamvale Police and Rosedale Police executed a search warrant at a Mount Maria address.
15 sophisticated hydroponic purpose-built greenhouses were located.
6189 cannabis plants and 564.23kg of dried cannabis were located across the greenhouses, a shed and in a house on the property, along with a significant amount of drug equipment and a small quantity of cocaine.
It will be alleged the cannabis seized has an estimated value of $35.3 million.
Upon police arrival, it will be alleged six people allegedly working on the property ran from the scene into nearby scrub and bushland.
Police with assistance from dog squad searched the area and all six men were taken into custody.
They were treated for minor injuries sustained in the bushland.
A 45-year-old man and 48-year-old man, both from Victoria, along with a 28-year-old man, 30-year-old man, 38-year-old man, 26-year-old man, all from NSW, have been charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of producing dangerous drugs, possessing anything for use in the commission of a crime, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and possessing drug utensils.
The 28-year-old man was remanded in custody and his matter is next expected to be heard before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 17.
The other five men were also remanded in custody, with their matters expected to next be heard before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on October 3.
Drug and Serious Crime Group State Drug Squad Detective Inspector Bradley Phelps said this is a significant seizure that was greatly assisted by the community.
“Information from the local community was vital in assisting us to investigate and successfully execute these warrants and seize cannabis with a combined value of $60 million,” Detective Inspector Phelps said.
“While Queensland Police Service has a number of investigative methods, information from the public is crucial in helping us disrupt alleged criminal activity,”
“We thank everyone who has provided us information and urge anyone who may know something, no matter how small, to come forward,” Detective Inspector Phelps said.
Operation Victor Alon remains ongoing.
0.48-2:22: Body worn vision of search and arrests at Mount Maria property
2:23-3:17: Mount Maria property
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
