Four men were arrested yesterday and police seized nearly $22 million worth of cannabis on a property near Lismore yesterday.

In November 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Harthouse to investigate the cultivation and supply of cannabis across NSW.

Their inquiries uncovered a remote 120-acre property near Lismore being used for the large-scale cultivation of cannabis.

Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant at the property on Bungawalbin Whiporie Road, Gibberagee, about 52km south-east of Lismore, from 9am yesterday (Wednesday 10 June 2020).

Investigators located and seized 7200 cannabis plants, and about 50kg of cannabis head, with an estimated potential street value of $21.6 million.

Four men – aged 20, 34, 35 and 37 – were arrested at the property and taken to Lismore Police Station.

The men were charged and are all due to appear at Lismore Local Court today (Thursday 11 June 2020).

Drugs and Firearms Squad Commander John Watson said “This seizure is the largest industrial grow-house cannabis crop located by NSW Police since 2010 – with officers successfully removing 7200 plants worth nearly $22 million from the property."

“Several thousand of these plants were mature and ready for harvest and were located by detectives inside 20 industrial grow houses – each equivalent to the size of an Olympic swimming pool.

“The property itself was used solely for the purpose of cannabis cultivation and was bordered by the Bungawalbin National Park, where the environment can be challenging for police.

“While there are indications that yesterday’s seizure may be linked to other sites uncovered in Northern NSW, inquiries into the operations of these suspected criminal syndicates are continuing.

“These arrests should send a strong message to criminals using regional NSW to grow cannabis crops that you will not go unnoticed,” Det Supt Watson said.