Cannabis plants seized

By Casey Neill
POLICE seized 115 cannabis plants worth up to $100,000 from a Ferntree Gully garage last Thursday following Crime Stoppers tip off.
Acting Sergeant Lee Nichols said the hydroponic setup was also using stolen electricity.
“Power was illegally sourced before it was able to be counted by the residence’s power meter,” he said.
Act Sgt Nichols said police were grateful for an anonymous call that led to the find.
“Unfortunately, illegal hydroponic cannabis operations do exist, and it’s only with the community’s help that we can eliminate these operations,” he said.
“Crime Stoppers is a great way of anonymously alerting police to suspicious activity, and as you can see, it has clearly worked in this situation.”
The public made more than 4700 drug-related reports to Crime Stoppers between June 2007 and June 2008, including 718 for cannabis cultivating and 1143 for cannabis trafficking.
Police could not reveal the street where the lab was unearthed.
Croydon Divisional Tasking Unit charged a 36-year-old Mulgrave man with cultivating and trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis, theft of electricity, and possession and use of cannabis.
This was the second drug bust in Ferntree Gully in three months.
Police seized cash and more than 500 grams of heroin valued at $260,000 after searching four properties, including a home in Forest Road, Ferntree Gully.
Police charged a 32-year-old Ferntree Gully man with heroin trafficking, possession and use.
This latest haul coincides with widespread efforts to tackle drug abuse.
Last September the Shire of Yarra Ranges vowed to set up a drug and alcohol task force, while last month the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed most Australians supported policies to reduce illicit drug use.
Act Sgt Nichols urged people to report suspected cannabis crops to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Blocked out windows, power cables connected to a garage or house, occupants who come and go frequently, vehicles visiting a house for briefly during the day, strong odours and fans humming can indicate a hydroponic setup.