A HYDROPONIC cannabis-growing set-up with about $30,000 worth of plants was found at a Myrtleford house early yesterday, along with a gun, ammunition and other weapons.
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At 9am, Myrtleford and Wangaratta police carried out a firearms search at the Merriang Road property, about two kilometres from the Myrtleford town centre.
Wangaratta divisional tasking unit’s Sgt Damien Loiterton said, along with an unregistered firearm, knuckle duster and swords, police found up to 70 cannabis plants growing in a shed on the property.
Sgt Loiterton said the plants, which had not matured, were growing in a standard hydroponic set-up with water pits, water pumps and lighting in the temperature-controlled environment.
He said hydroponic set-ups were under construction in two other rooms.
A search of another house on the property revealed 10 plants being grown there.
Sgt Loiterton said a woman was at the house at the time and two men, both residents, arrived at the property during the search, after being instructed by police to return to the property.
Police put the street value of the cannabis to be about $30,000.
Sgt Loiterton said the seizure of the illegal drug was satisfying.
“It was a good result to get that amount of cannabis and to stop it getting out on the street and affecting people’s lives,” he said.
Two Myrtleford men, 21 and 23, were arrested and will be charged with cultivate, trafficking, possessing and using cannabis.
They also face charges relating to firearm offences.
A Myrtleford woman, 50, was charged with cultivating, possessing and using cannabis.
The find comes a week after Beechworth, Wang-aratta and Wodonga police seized $100,000 in cannabis plants in the Stanley Forest.
The 155 plants were found at four sites along a creek.
A Beechworth man, 30, will appear in court in April.