SYDNEY, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australian police destroyed more than 11 million Australian dollars (7.28 million U.S. dollars) worth of cannabis after aerial raids on regional properties this week, the Australian ABC News broadcaster reported on Friday.

Authorities destroyed more than 1.4 tonnes of the illicit drug, burning all the plants on site after special operations police launched a series of aerial raids on remote properties in the state of Victoria, the report said.

Police searched two large rural properties in Dunluce and Kamarooka, as well as homes in Maryborough and Melbourne suburb Deer Park on Monday and Wednesday this week.

The arrests and drug seizures were an "enormous win" for the regional communities, Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan said.

"These properties are incredibly remote and there were a number of sophisticated measures in place in an attempt to remain undetected by authorities," he said.

Five Vietnamese nationals, all charged with cultivating large commercial quantities of cannabis, have been remanded to appear at Bendigo Magistrates' Court in March, according to the ABC News report.

Three more Vietnamese nationals have been interviewed by police and released pending further inquiries. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)