POLICE believe they have made significant headway into stamping out the supply of cannabis after seizing more than $180,000 worth of the illegal drug during two separate busts.
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A residence in Bundabah was searched on January 28 and another rural property at Tea Gardens on January 30 by police from the Port Stephens Local Area Command.
Port Stephens crime manager Detective Inspector George Radmore said both searches followed anonymous tip-offs from the public. Police will allege that 56 cannabis plants, some more than 1.8 metres tall, were found in a chicken enclosure during a search of a residence in Bundabah Road on January 28.
The plants had an estimated street value of $112,000.
It is further alleged police found 878 grams of dried cannabis leaf, estimated to be worth $22,000, in the Bundabah residence, plus an unregistered firearm.
A 56-year-old man, the occupant of the residence, was charged with three firearms offences, cultivating an indictable quantity of cannabis and supplying a commercial quantity of cannabis.
Two days later police attended a rural residential property in Viney Creek Road, Tea Gardens.
There, police allegedly found and seized 24 cannabis plants, some more than 1.5m tall. The seizure had an estimated value of $48,000. A 54-year-old man was charged with cultivating and possessing a prohibited plant.
Both men will appear at the East Maitland courthouse on February 23.
Detective Inspector Radmore said the seizures should demonstrate that police took illegal drug cultivation and supply very seriously.
‘‘Information can be provided anonymously to police stations or to Crime Stoppers,’’ he said.
