Victoria Police seize 1,100 cannabis plants in Melbourne south-east raids
More than 100 Victoria Police Drug Task Force officers searched 16 homes in Melbourne’s south-east on 3 and 4 February 2010, seizing more than 1,100 hydroponic cannabis plants worth about A$9 million and $250,000 cash; thirteen people were arrested.
🇦🇺 Melbourne south-east (Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Berwick, Endeavour Hills) · Victoria, Australia
·
Arrested
13
Plants destroyed
1,100
More than 100 detectives raided 16 houses in Hampton Park, Narre Warren, Berwick and Endeavour Hills
over two days in early February 2010 at the end of a four-month Drug Task Force investigation.[1][2]Police said most targets held commercial hydroponic cannabis crops.[1][2]
Seizures and arrests
Officers seized more than 1,100 plants with an estimated street value of at least A$9 million plus
$250,000 cash.[1][2]Thirteen people were arrested.[2]Detective Inspector Doug Fryer said the
operation removed more than half a tonne of cannabis from circulation and would hurt an organised
syndicate supplying the trade.[1][2]
Courts
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 5 February that eight of the thirteen arrested were due at
Melbourne Magistrates Court that day, one person was charged and bailed for a later date, and four
were released pending further inquiries.[1]The Berwick Star News said eight defendants appeared
in court on 5 February and that police were proceeding with confiscation applications on several
properties.[2]
Detective Inspector Doug Fryer said the syndicate removed more than half a tonne of cannabis from the street; plant counts and weight are police estimates, not laboratory totals.
The Berwick Star News reported eight people before court on 5 February while the Sydney Morning Herald said eight of thirteen arrested were due in court on 5 February; charging outcomes for the others are not detailed in the opened articles.
Police told local media they were pursuing asset confiscation on several houses; the opened February reports do not list final confiscation orders.
Victoria Police arrested and charged two Highett men, aged 48 and 67, after a 29 October 2026 warrant on Peace Street. Officers seized cannabis, hydroponic equipment and other drugs; one man is remanded and the other is on bail.
Hunter Valley police seized 280 plants at Denman on 29 September 2026 and 925 more at Muswellbrook and Singleton Heights on 1 October, taking Operation Cages to 1,465 plants worth about $4 million; two men, 36 and 56, were charged and refused bail.
Police searched 15 properties across the Australian Capital Territory and seized 1,586 cannabis plants, about 70 kg of dried cannabis, cash and six vehicles. Nine people were charged with criminal-group and drug offences in what police called their largest ever operation against grow houses.
ACT Policing's Operation Margate dismantled 14 cannabis grow houses and destroyed 2,613 plants worth about $9 million between 2023 and June 2026. Six offenders were arrested and charged, with houses worth about $4.6 million restrained for forfeiture.
