Police from Southern Metro Div 3 Divisional Response Unit have arrested five people following a series of warrants in the south eastern suburbs on 3 September.
Warrants were executed at addresses in Springvale South, Pakenham, Patterson Lakes, Drouin and Springvale as part of an ongoing operation.
In total, over 500 cannabis plants, a large quantity of dried cannabis and cash was seized.
The value of the seizure is estimated to be $1.5 million dollars.
A 30-year-old Springvale South man has been charged with cultivate/traffick/possess commercial quantity of cannabis and deal with property suspected of being proceeds of crime and was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.
A 47-year-old Springvale man has been charged with cultivate/traffick/possess commercial quantity of cannabis and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.
A 43-year-old Keysborough man has been charged with cultivate/traffick/possess commercial quantity of cannabis and deal with property suspected of being proceeds of crime and was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.
A 19-year-old Springvale man has been charged with cultivate/traffick/possess commercial quantity of cannabis and was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 16 November.
A 30-year-old Springvale man has been released pending further enquiries.
The arrests form part of an ongoing operation to disrupt a major organised drug syndicate cultivating and trafficking cannabis.