Dope growers prey on farmers
SAM RICHES, POLICE REPORTER
November 13, 2006 01:40pm
A MAJOR police operation targeting dope-growing criminals who are preying on vulnerable farmers has been launched.
Launching Operation County , police warned that criminals were using standover tactics and stealing water and resources from farmers.
It follows the discovery of 1000 cannabis plants by a Coonalpyn farmer last Wednesday after checking on irregular water readings and finding his irrigation lines tampered with.
Detective Superintendent Paul Dickson, officer in charge of the Drug Investigation Branch, said police were aware of property owners approached by criminals to grow cannabis or supply land or water or both. "Large financial incentives" were being offered to farmers who had been hard hit by the drought.
Country residents are asked to report any threats or offers to police and to be vigilant for suspicious activity, particularly in the Riverland, Lower South East and Eyre Peninsula, where cannabis is predominantly produced outdoors.
In the past six years more than 16,000 outdoor plants have been seized and destroyed by detectives, in the past three years more than $15 million in assets have also been confiscated, some from farmers lured into cannabis production by the lucrative payoffs.
Farmers, landowners and anyone caught face fines of up to $500,000, up to 25 years in prison and risk their property being confiscated.
As part of Operation County, Sup't Dickson said people needed to be wary of people looking for short-term property leases, unusual or suspicious activity around farmhouses, sheds and properties, interference with water supplies or irrigation and cars, utes or other vehicles acting suspiciously in country areas.
