Move FM Regional news

BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW, Australia – A random stop of a vehicle for breath-testing in the Blue Mountains on Thursday has led to a major drug bust.

The saga began just before 5:00pm on Thursday when officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting a stationary random breath-testing on the Great Western Highway, at Lawson.

A white Toyota van was pulled over.

Officers spoke to the driver, a 43-year-old man from the Sydney suburb of Fairfield West, and his passenger, a 40-year-old man from Cabramatta, and could smell a strong smell coming from the vehicle.

The officers searched the van and located and seized 71 kg of cannabis leaf with an estimated street value of $350,000.00.

The vehicle was seized for forensic examination.

The men were arrested and taken to Springwood Police Station where they were charged.

Following inquiries, officers from the Blue Mountains Police Area Command raided a home in Lawson, in the Blue Mountains, about 9:00pm Thursday night.

During the search of the property, police located a hydroponic cannabis set-up containing 800 cannabis plants inside the home and two sheds. A crime scene was established.

The estimated street value of the cannabis plants is $1 million.

A 38-year-old man from Fairfield West was arrested at the scene and taken to Springwood Police Station where he was charged.

All three men were refused bail and fronted Penrith Local Court on Friday.