More than 1400 cannabis plants have been seized, and two men have been charged, after multiple search warrants were executed in the Hunter Valley.
On Tuesday 21 July 2026, Hunter Valley Detectives and the Hunter Valley Proactive Crime Team executed a search warrant at a home in Cessnock.
During a search of the home, officers allegedly located an elaborate hydroponic cannabis cultivation setup and seized a total of 260 mature cannabis plants.
Officers also seized cannabis seedlings, dried cannabis, and hydroponic equipment.
Further inquiries into the incident commenced by local police assisted by the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad under Operation Cages.
Following further inquiries, on Tuesday 29 September 2026 officers executed two crime scene warrants in Cessnock and Denman.
During the search at Denman, officers allegedly located and seized 280 cannabis plants and found the premises to be illegally connected to the power grid.
Two men – aged 36 and 56 – were arrested and taken to Cessnock and Muswellbrook Police Stations.
The younger man was charged with five offences,
- Organises/conducts/assists drug premises
- Cultivate prohibited plant (greater than or equal to commercial quantity)
- Enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis for commercial purpose
- Divert/use electricity for generating etc system without authorisation, and
- Found on/entering/leaving drug premises.
The older man was charged with three offences,
- Cultivate prohibited plant (greater than or equal to commercial quantity)
- Enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis for commercial purpose, and
- Found on/entering/leaving drug premises.
Both men were refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday 30 September 2026, where they were formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 25 November 2026.
Following further inquiries, officers executed three search warrants yesterday (Thursday 1 October 2026) in Muswellbrook and Singleton Heights.
During the searches, 925 cannabis plants were allegedly located, and all three homes were found to be illegally connected to the power grid.
Across the operation to date, a total of 1465 cannabis plants have been seized and destroyed, with an estimated potential street value of approximately $4 million.
Inquiries are ongoing under Operation Cages.
