TWO men have been charged with cultivating cannabis after the discovery of a hydroponic drug crop inside a farm shed at Tresco.
Swan Hill Detective Acting Sergeant Barry Gray said police executed a warrant on the Murray Valley Highway property on Friday morning following an investigation by Crime Investigation Unit officers.
He said it appeared the alleged offenders, aged 47 and 48, had spent “a fair bit of money” allegedly renovating and fitting-out the shed with new hydroponic equipment.
“It’s been fitted out with four rooms and brand new equipment,” he said.
“There were about 80 mid-sized plants — but they were certainly capable of growing full size given the set up.”
The alleged offenders, who are also facing theft charges, only recently moved to Tresco from Melbourne.
“We suspect it’s the first time they’ve attempted to grow there, that they only got set up in the last four weeks,” Det Acting Sgt Gray alleged. “It’s more than just your novice crop… it’s one of the larger ones we’ve come across recently.”
Det Acting Sgt Gray said Friday’s raid was one of several carried out across the region last week.
A 46-year-old Swan Hill man and a 24-year-old Woorinen man were charged on Wednesday after they were allegedly found in possession of methamphetamines and drug parphrenalia. Three people were also charged following drug raids at Cohuna.
Det Acting Sgt Gray said the 47 and 48-year-old Tresco men would appear in Swan Hill Magistrates’ Court.
