POLICE say Ballarat’s marijuana supply has been dented after they seized around 100 plants in a major drug bust at a vacant house in Canadian yesterday morning.
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Working on an anonymous tip-off, police attended the Tullock Rise address on Thursday night, where they found a sophisticated hydroponic set-up and a commercial quantity of marijuana plants.
The haul has a rough street value of $180,000, and police are still conducting inquiries. There have been no arrests at this stage over the drugs and the growing equipment.
After obtaining a search warrant, members of the Divisional Response Unit entered the property yesterday morning.
The plants ranged from seedlings to 1.5 metres tall, and many were mature and close to harvest. No cash was found on the scene.
Detective senior constable Luke Miller from the Divisional Response Unit said police had not made any arrests at this stage.
He said no one seemed to be living in the house.
“Of course this will put a dent in the local supply of marijuana,” he
said.
Police were wearing masks as they removed the plants from the house.
A Powercor line crew attended the scene and disconnected the power before the hydroponic equipment could be seized.
In the past six months, there have been a string of drug busts in the Ballarat area, including two seizures of more than 200 plants in Alfredton and Learmonth worth more than $1 million.
Divisional Response Unit Sergeant Kori Fraser said the latest haul was a substantial one. “It’s good to get it off the street, really,” he said.
Police are appealing for anyone with more information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
tom.cowie@fairfaxmedia.com.au