South-west police will target the potential seizure of assets, including properties, after a second cannabis crop house was discovered in 10 days at Portland.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the past six months police have seized cannabis with a street value of more than $2.5 million from crop houses in Warrnambool, Hamilton, Horsham and now two in Portland.
South-west police crime investigation units commander Senior Sergeant Chris Asenjo said information from the public was crucial in locating the grow houses.
The crop houses in Hamilton and both at Portland are believed to be privately owned while the operation in Warrnambool was at a long-term rental property.
"Cannabis crop houses are a hot topic and will continue to be focus for us," he said.
"Information from the public was again crucial in the uncovering of this sophisticated operation in Portland.
"We are certainly achieving our goals.
"If members of the public see suspicious activity please contact your local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."
Senior Sergeant Asenjo said as well as actual drug offences, extensive investigations would now be carried out in relation to the possible seizure of assets.
"If the owner of the property is involved or at least willfully blind to criminal activities being conducted on those premises we will be actively investigating whether assets can be seized," he said.
Another $500,000 cannabis crop house was discovered in Portland on Tuesday morning, little more than a week after the first was raided.
Detective Sergeant Jason von Tunk, of the Portland police crime investigation unit, said officers executed a search warrant at a Edgar Street property in Portland at 7am.
There they found about 300 plants with a potential street value of more than $500,000.
About half the crop was mature plants.
Portland and Hamilton CIU detectives, Portland uniform members and crime scene officers from Warrnambool are processing the crop.
Detective Sergeant von Tunk said one man, a Vietnamese national, has been arrested and is about to be interviewed.
He said information from the public after the first raid led to the second crop being discovered.
"While the crop houses are not believed to be linked, information supplied after the first raid led to the application and execution of a warrant at Edgar Street this morning," he said.
"It was another very pleasing result. We're just about to interview the arrested man."
On Saturday, April 25, Portland police found 250 cannabis plants at a south Portland property.
Read more:
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
