A man will face court next month after police seized more than $3 million worth of allegedly illegal tobacco on the Central Coast last year.
It came after investigators in March 2020 received information that a tobacco crop was allegedly being illegally grown on a property off Euloo Road at Peats Ridge.
Strike Force Morgan, comprising of detectives from Brisbane Water Police District, was established and a search warrant was executed at the premises on April 13, 2020.
Officers allegedly found a large tobacco crop - more than 13 hectares in size and valued at more than $3 million - during the raid, along with three kilns and cash.
Ten people working at the property were arrested at the time. They were later released pending further investigations.
Following extensive inquiries, a Court Attendance Notice was prepared for the offences of:
- possess tobacco, tobacco seed, tobacco plant, tobacco leaf 500kg or above;
- manufacture/produce tobacco/seed/plant/leaf 500kg or above;
- deal with suspected proceeds of indictable crime.
Attempts to serve the notice on a 53-year-old man were unsuccessful and inquiries revealed he had left the country.
But investigators on Thursday discovered the man was back in Australia and in hotel quarantine.
He is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on October 1.
