Police in Victoria executed warrants at properties across metropolitan and regional Victoria from 7am on 23 November 2010 as part of Operation Entity, a significant drug investigation.[1] Almost 70 properties were raided, 34 people were arrested and 6,000 cannabis plants seized in early tallies of what police described as the biggest set of drug raids in the state’s history.[2]

The operation involved almost 650 sworn and unsworn members from the Drug Task Force, Criminal Proceeds Squad, regional response and local units, along with members of the Australian Federal Police.[1] A further account put the day’s totals at 68 properties raided, more than 40 arrests and over 7,200 plants seized, calling it the single biggest day of raids in Victoria Police history.[1]

Deputy Commissioner Ken Jones said the raids, codenamed Operation Entity, were ongoing, with 100 properties expected to be raided by the end of the week.[2] The two-year investigation targeted alleged crime syndicates involved in the production of cannabis, which police believed had raked in an estimated $400 million through high-potency hydroponic crops.[1][2] The raids covered the Dandenong, Melton and Footscray areas as well as regional Horsham, Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool.[2]