By ALESHA CAPONE
A STATE-WIDE police operation targeting marijuana production has executed more than 50 search warrants in Brimbank in the past 12 months.
Last week, Acting Inspector Dave De Francesco from the Drug Taskforce spoke to Star about Operation TAXA, which commenced as a pilot in the north-west metro region in August 2012.
“Since then, we have executed 51 search warrants in Brimbank across the past 12 months,” Acting Insp De Francesco said.
The taskforce has also interviewed 33 people in relation to trafficking and cultivating cannabis within Brimbank.
Acting Insp De Francesco said Brimbank Drug Unit officers had also worked hard on the issue of cannabis cultivation in the area, carrying out their investigations alongside those of Operation TAXA, which now extends across Victoria.
“Since TAXA commenced in August last year, we have seized around 12,500 thousand plants with an estimated value of around $38 million,” Acting Insp De Francesco said.
“The bulk of our work, it’s fairly reasonable to say, is in the western suburbs. It’s certainly not isolated to the West, but it is fair to say that.
“TAXA has been going since April 2012, and judging by the statistics of the amount of plants seized and arrests made, the operation has been a success and also in terms in disrupting a number of syndicates in Brimbank and wider areas.”
Acting Insp De Francesco said 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.
Acting Insp De Francesco said a woman was arrested and charged on 6 August during an ongoing investigation which uncovered 52 cannabis plants at a Deer Park address.
The previous day, a specialist squad working out of the Melton Crime Investigation Unit executed a search warrant a Hillside home and detected several rooms being used to cultivate cannabis.
The cannabis found at the Honeysuckle Ave home weighed more than 200 kilograms.
Three men have been charged with cultivating a commercial amount of cannabis and power theft.
Two Caroline Springs men, aged 22 and 24, were remanded in custody and appeared at the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
A third man, 38, from Hillside was bailed to appear at the same court this week.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
