Police seized another 925 cannabis plants from three homes in Muswellbrook and Singleton Heights, taking the total under a Hunter drug investigation to 1,465 plants with a potential street value of about $4 million; all were destroyed.[1][2]
On 29 September officers executed warrants in Cessnock and Denman, finding 280 plants and an illegal power connection at the Denman property and arresting two men aged 36 and 56.[1][2] The 1 October searches found all three homes illegally connected to the grid.[1] Both men face commercial cultivation, enhanced indoor cultivation and drug-premises charges; the younger also faces organising drug premises and electricity diversion counts.[1] Bail was refused on 30 September ahead of a 25 November Newcastle Local Court date.[1] An earlier 21 July Cessnock search had found 260 mature plants plus seedlings, dried cannabis and hydroponic gear.[1][2]