Australian authorities have uncovered a massive criminal operation hiding in plain sight. In a coordinated strike over the weekend, police from the Murray River District and the Echo Taskforce raided two rural properties, seizing approximately 9,700 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $20 million (AUD).
The Neimur Raid (NSW)
The first strike occurred at a property in Neimur, near Deniliquin. Detectives discovered a sophisticated large-scale cultivation setup, seizing 5,000 plants worth roughly $10 million. Four men—aged between 28 and 48—were arrested at the scene and have been charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant. All four were refused bail.
The Cohuna Raid (Victoria)
Simultaneously, across the border in Victoria, police descended on a property near Cohuna. Officers found 10 large greenhouses packed with 4,700 cannabis plants. The raid turned dramatic as four foreign nationals attempted to flee into nearby bushland and irrigation channels to escape arrest. They were eventually tracked down and taken into custody.
Organized Crime Link
Police believe these "grow houses" are part of a larger syndicate using remote rural properties to mass-produce drugs. "These are not small operations; this is industrial-scale organized crime," a police spokesperson stated. Investigations are ongoing to find the ringleaders behind the operation.
