By ALESHA CAPONE
BRIMBANK police have busted yet another two cannabis grow houses, seizing hundreds of plants in the process.
Brimbank Police Inspector Chris Gilbert said at around 4.30 am on Saturday 23 November, Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) crews attended a house fire in Cleveland St, St Albans.
“Police also attended and the MFB personnel discovered evidence of a hydroponic cannabis crop,” Insp Gilbert said.
A later search of the property located approximately 100 cannabis plants and an illegal electricity bypass.”
A couple of days later around 170 plants were seized under warrant from a home in Annetta Court, Albanvale as part of Operation TAXA,” Insp Gilbert said.
Earlier this year, Star revealed the state-wide TAXA operation has executed more than 50 search warrants across Brimbank in 12 months.
The taskforce has also interviewed 33 people in relation to trafficking and cultivating cannabis within the area.
Acting Inspector Dave De Francesco from the Drug Taskforce told Star many of the homes searched under Operation TAXA were cannabis grow houses with crop-sitters, electrical bypass systems installed and rooms converted especially to grow cannabis.
Insp Gilbert said illegal electrical bypass systems also posed dangers to surrounding residents, as they could cause fires without warning – much like the case of a Cairnlea crop house discovered in June.
A blaze which broke out at the Eaglehawk Circuit house took firefighters took almost 30 minutes to bring under control and caused “extensive fire, heat and smoke damage throughout the entire property”.
“Police have repeated a warning about the dangers of cannabis grow houses and encourage anyone with information about suspected grow houses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” Insp Gilbert said.
