The cannabis plants where police found them growing under grape vines. Pictures: PETER MERKESTEYN
There were about 7000 cannabis plants found among the vines at this Cheshunt property.
IT’S the first time Alam Noor has been in jail.
He is charged with the cultivation of one of the state’s biggest cannabis crops, found on Monday near Wangaratta, a court heard yesterday.
Noor, 38, from Griffith, and James Stammers, 65, from Liverpool in Sydney, were charged on Monday with the cultivation of a large quantity of cannabis.
They appeared in the Benalla Magistrates’ Court early yesterday for a filing hearing.
Court documents show Noor, an Indian national, made no admissions to police about cultivating the crop while Stammers had told investigators he had originally planted 10,000 plants.
Noor and Stammers are accused of cultivating almost 7000 cannabis plants police found growing in a vineyard at Cheshunt.
The crop, valued about $21 million on the street, is believed to be one of the state’s biggest.
Short-statured Noor and Stammers were seated side-by-side in court yesterday.
Wearing tracksuit pants, they had their hands in their laps as they sat flanked by police.
Noor barely raised his eyes during the hearing.
Barrister Allison Vaughan, appearing on behalf of Trish Devlin Lawyers in Wangaratta, represented both Noor and Stammers.
She told magistrate Paul Smith it was Noor’s first time in custody.
“He has no family, as I understand it,” Ms Vaughan said.
“He’s fairly isolated and vulnerable.”
Ms Vaughan said Noor would need medical attention for any mental health issues that could arise from first-time incarceration.
But Mr Smith said their was no evidence of any issues.
Stammers was granted medical attention because of an ongoing infection that requires him to take medication daily.
Stammers and Noor, did not apply for bail and were remanded.
The case was adjourned for a committal mention in the Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on June 13.