Two men will face court after police uncovered over $1,000,000 in cash inside a car travelling in to South Australia.
Just before midnight on Saturday 14 November police were working at the Oodla Wirra checkpoint when a Holden ute entering the State from NSW was stopped.
Police spoke to the driver, a 51-year-old Mid North man, and had cause to search his vehicle. Inside the car police allegedly located over $1,000,000 in cash, an amount of the illicit substance fantasy and an amount of methamphetamine.
Police placed the man under arrest, seized the cash and drugs, and the investigation commenced. On Sunday 15 November police searched three properties, one within the Mid North Area, and two in the Barossa region.
At the Mid North property police allegedly located a hydroponic cannabis set up. They also located prescribed equipment allegedly used to grow cannabis hydroponically.
At the first Barossa property police allegedly located a hydroponic cannabis set up as well as prescribed equipment allegedly used to grow cannabis hydroponically.
At the second Barossa property police allegedly located prescribed equipment used to grow cannabis hydroponically. At this address a 47-year-old Mid North man was arrested in connection to the offences.
The 51-year-old man was charged with money laundering, trafficking in a commercial quantity of cannabis, three counts of possess prescribed equipment, trafficking in a controlled drug (methyl amphetamine) and trafficking in a controlled drug (GHB).
The 47-year-old Mid North man was charged with money laundering, trafficking in a commercial quantity of cannabis, and three counts of possess prescribed equipment.
Both have been refused bail and will appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court and Elizabeth Magistrates Court tomorrow, Tuesday 17 November.
A police spokesperson said “SAPOL continue to police highways and roads used to travel to and from South Australia. This significant seizure of cash should serve as a warning to organised crime groups that transport illegal commodities across our border.”
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