15 December, 2021
$10.5 million of cannabis seized
An investigation by Toowoomba detectives has led them to a property on Willow Springs Road, Clifton where they found 3,015 cannabis plants worth an estimated $10.5 million.
At around 4.50pm last Tuesday, December 7, officers from the Toowoomba Tactical Crime Squad intercepted a utility on the Warrego Highway, near the intersection with Postmans Ridge Road at Helidon.
It will be alleged police located a large cardboard box in the rear seat containing 20 bags of cannabis, with police also finding an additional four boxes containing 78 bags of cannabis in the rear of the utility.
In total approximately 44 kilograms of cannabis was seized with an estimated street value of $264,000.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 37-years-old man from New South Wales was arrested.
Investigations by police led them to a storage facility in Toowoomba where detectives executed a search warrant on December 8.
Police allegedly located five boxes containing approximately 59 kilograms of cannabis with an estimated street value of $354 000.
On December 9 detectives from Toowoomba Tactical Crime Squad executed a search warrant on a Willow Springs property, allegedly locating 3,015 cannabis plants, of varying sizes and worth an estimated $10.5 million, in a well-established cannabis crop.
The acreage property had an extensive greenhouse and drying shed with sophisticated lighting, irrigation and ventilation systems.
These plants have since been destroyed.
The 37-years-old man has appeared in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court charged with one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, offence to buy or possess schedule 4 medicine, and three counts possess dangerous drugs and two counts of possess anything used in the connection of crime – Drugs Misuse Act.
He has been remanded in custody to appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on February 14.
Anyone who may have information for police, should contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form, available 24 hours a day here.
Report crime information anonymously online via Crime Stoppers or by calling 1800 333 000. Quote this reference number: QP2102273024.
