Investigators from Strike Force Grassy, allegedly found 92 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $274,000 when they raided the home in Morotai Avenue last Wednesday.
A short time later, police arrested a 51-year-old man and 54-year-old woman at Ryde, before searching two more homes at Samuel Street, Ryde and William Street, Riverwood. During the searches, documentation and other items relevant to the investigation were also seized.
The man and woman were charged with cultivating a commercial quality of a prohibited plant.
The strike force was established in 2011 by detectives attached to Redfern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) to investigate the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis across the Central Metropolitan Region.
Investigators urge anyone with information about the cultivation and supply of cannabis, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Some of the signs of a hydro house could include;
• Increased security measures (roller shutters, fences, vicious dogs in the yard);
• Increased use of electricity, water;
• Illegal connection to electrical supply;
• Condensation on windows;
• Continual running of generators and lights;
• Disposal of large amounts of garbage;
• Large quantities of chemicals and fertilisers around the premises;
• Locks or other methods in place to prevent access to the electricity meter box; and
• Discarded plastic containers and strong odours (fertilisers, liquid and bagged growing cultures).
