WA Police looking to crack Vietnamese crime network reveal methodical way crims are moving marijuana during COVID lockdown

A WA Police investigation into a Vietnamese criminal network, which uncovered a series of “grow houses” across Perth and Geraldton, has exposed the unusual way marijuana is being transported during COVID-19. More than $700,000 worth of cannabis has been seized and five people charged in a significant haul by Organised Crime Squad detectives as part of Taskforce Silverdrift—an operation started in 2017 to target the swathe of cannabis grow houses multiplying across Perth and beyond. Most are run by crime gangs in the eastern states and overseas. The drug busts resulted after police stopped and searched a vehicle in Rockingham last Friday, where they allegedly found seven sealed drums containing 50 vacuum sealed bags of about 25kg of cannabis. Detective Sergeant Tony Walton of the Organised Crime Squad said the way the drugs were being transported was a clear sign of the times, admitting that he had not seen marijuana packaged “in those drums” in more than three years, and never in the three years Taskforce Silverdrift had operated for. “It's difficult for them to get rid of that cannabis (during COVID-19), and I think in this particular instance that's why it was packaged in those drums,” he said. “In three years I haven't seen cannabis packaged in those drums before. “They were sealed in those 25L drums, I think it was probably a courier company that has moved those. Whether it's moved intrastate or interstate, I'm not sure, but certainly I haven't seen that packaging before in this operation.” The vehicle stop, which saw a 59-year-old Rockingham man arrested and charged, triggered drug raids at three Perth properties. It is alleged police seized 56 cannabis plants and hydroponic equipment from a home on Greeson Parkway in Secret Harbour, 1kg of cannabis from a property on Trafalgar Place in Queens Park, and $3,960 in cash from a residence on Carina Close in Rockingham. Det Sgt Walton admitted that as police uncovered more grow houses and syndicates, “more ways to get that cannabis and those drugs passed police” would be created. “Where we seized these containers there was another dozen tins at an address at a search warrant in Perth,” he said. “So it was certainly a lot more that was transferred and as I said, it's of particular interest that it was packaged in those tins.” Information gathered during the three metropolitan search warrants took detectives to Geraldton on Saturday, where a further seven raids were executed with the help of local detectives. Police allegedly found two cannabis grow houses in Rangeway, where 138 and 127 cannabis plants were seized, respectively. The other five searches were carried out at two more Rangeway homes as well properties in Narngulu, Bootenal and Geraldton. Det. Sgt. Walton said it was the first time a cannabis syndicate had been identified in Geraldton. “The houses in Perth and Geraldton are linked to the same syndicate,” he said, adding that some of the properties had weed growing in every room except the lounge, which is “quite unusual”. “Usually it’s the whole house. “All the cannabis grow houses are very sophisticated ... We see up to 400 plants in a house ... and 90 per cent are rented through Gumtree.” Det Sgt Walton said “these syndicates” typically sent “crop sitters” to tend to the cannabis plantsfor very short times at each house. “They're in, they're out, you don’t see any other movement. They'll always come in, put the bins out and then put the bins away but other than that there's no other movement,” he said. Five people, who police allege are linked to some of the searched properties, have been charged in relation to the offences and have all been refused bail in court. The West Australian was told only one of them was an Australian citizen while another was on a tourist visa. A 59-year-old Rockingham man is next due in Perth Magistrates Court on June 8. A 23-year-old Queens Park man will front court on May 22. A 40-year-old man and a 61-year-old man, both from Rangeway, as well as a 42-year-old woman from Victoria Park, were all due to appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Investigations are ongoing, including into the link between the 42-year-old Victoria Park woman and the Red Gully drug operation — WA’s largest ever cannabis bust, which saw 7567 plants seized in October 2018. Since Taskforce Silverdriftcommenced in 2017, 35,000 cannabis plants have been seized and 193 Vietnamese nationals and one Australian have been jailed. Anyone with information regarding the location of cannabis grow houses, or other cultivation of cannabis, is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.

WA Police looking to crack Vietnamese crime network reveal methodical way crims are moving marijuana during COVID lockdown

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