Dapto hydro house raided by Lake Illawarra police

A 50-year-old man was arrested at the Marshall Street property about 8am and later charged.

He was refused bail and will appear at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

Lake Illawarra Police Acting Inspector Jack Brown said the raid was a result of an ongoing investigation but it was too early to say if it is linked to earlier set ups found at West Wollongong, Windang, Mount Saint Thomas, Coniston and Figtree.

Police seized 410 plants –  ranging from seedlings to mature – with an estimated potential street value of $1.23million.

Acting Inspector Brown set the Marshall Street home contained a sophisticated set up with plants filling seven rooms of the house.

“Electrical circuits have been bypassed as well as watering and filtration system set up to reduce the smell,” he said.

Around 1pm several passerby stopped to watch from the street as police officers continued to haul plants into a van, this time from the garage.

Giant white heat lamps and temperature gauges could be seen hanging above the fully grown specimens in the well insulated room, the pungent smell filling the air.

Acting Inspector Brown said investigations were continuing and anyone with information should contact police.