Calderwood home allegedly yields multi-million dollar cannabis haul in police raid

A Calderwood home allegedly concealing millions of dollars’ worth of cannabis was uncovered by police as part of a mass drug bust this year.

NSW Police established Strike Force Heradale in December 2023 to investigate alleged large-scale commercial cultivation of cannabis by a transnational organised crime network.

The Strike Force has charged 19 people, 10 of those being from the Illawarra, and allegedly seized more than $80 million worth of cannabis in total.

Their first arrest on 3 April 2024, kicked off a string of raids over several months.

Detectives executed a search warrant at a property in Kemps Creek.

A NSW Police spokesperson said officers immediately saw the property was allegedly being used as a purpose-built cannabis farm with an alleged 16 commercial sized greenhouses and infrastructure to grow cannabis and refine it for distribution.

“The hydroponic cannabis plantation consisted of over 5400 cannabis pants, with an estimated street value of $18 million,” the NSW Police spokesperson alleged.

“Two men – aged 32 and 35 – and a 41-year-old woman, were arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where all three were charged with knowingly take part in the cultivation of a large commercial quantity of cannabis, and participate in a criminal group.

“They were refused bail and appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 4 April.”

Their cases remain before the courts.

Then, in May, detectives began phase two of their operation when they executed a search warrant at a property in Calderwood, Shellharbour.

The NSW Police spokesperson alleged that during the search, conducted about 2:30 pm on Wednesday 29 May, police located and seized more than 366 kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of $4 million.

“Detectives arrested six men and four women, aged between 28 and 64 years old, at the scene,” the police spokesperson said.

“They were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where they were all charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug in a large commercial quantity, participate in a criminal group, contribute to criminal activity and being found on drug premises.”

All 10 were refused bail to appear before Wollongong Local Court on Thursday 30 May. Four of the accused were granted bail. The other six remain in custody.

All 10 cases will return to court in January 2025.

Then, on Friday 7 June, detectives executed a search warrant on a property in Bringelly, where they allegedly found more than 6500 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $23 million.

About 8:30 am on Wednesday 25 September, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a property in Rossmore, where they allegedly found more than 4000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $12 million.

Three men were arrested at the Rossmore property aged 33, 40 and 30, and charged with offences relating to the cultivation of cannabis and participating in a criminal group.

The men were refused bail and appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 26 September. Their cases remain before the courts.

About 8:30 am on Thursday 10 October, strike force detectives executed a second search warrant at the property in Bringelly where 7472 cannabis plants – with a street value of $22 million – were allegedly located and seized.

The NSW Police spokesperson alleged a 61-year-old man was arrested tending to the plants and “taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and participating in a criminal group”.

The man was refused bail and appeared before Picton Local Court on 11 October. His case remains before the courts.

In the most recent raid strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Canley Vale about 6 am on 12 November, where they arrested two men, both aged 35.

Police alleged during a search of the home detectives found 220 kgs of cannabis with a street value of more than $2 million and $240,000 in cash.

The men were taken to Fairfield Police Station, where they were charged with a number of offences relating to the supply and cultivation of large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and knowingly direct and participate in a criminal group.

Both men were refused bail and appeared before Fairfield Local Court the same day. Their cases remain before the courts.