A Taylors Hill man and a Deer Park woman have been charged and police have seized in excess of a tonne of cannabis as part of an investigation into an Albanian organised crime syndicate allegedly involved in the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis.
Five warrants were executed on Tuesday at residential addresses in Taylors Hill, Rockbank, Greenvale, Taylors Lakes and Deer Park.
A 47-year-old Taylors Hill man, an Albanian national who police will allege is the ringleader of the syndicate, was charged with cultivate and trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis and possessing the proceeds of crime.
He was remanded to appear in court in January.
A 44-year-old Deer Park woman, a Colombian national located at one of the addresses and believed to be a crop sitter, was charged with cultivate and trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis.
She was bailed to front court in January.
Police seized approximately $200,000 cash from the Taylors Hill address, more than 260 cannabis plants from the Taylors Lakes property, more than 185 cannabis plants from the Deer Park address, almost 200 plants from the Rockbank property and 100 plants from Greenvale.
A further property in Keilor East was raided on Wednesday with an additional 180 plants seized.
In total, in excess of a tonne of cannabis with a street value of approximately $5 million has been seized during this operation.
Detective Acting Inspector Leigh Howse said as a result of the operation, a tonne of illicit cannabis is on its way to be destroyed.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
