Man Faces Court Over $28m Marijuana Plantation
Central Coast Herald
Wednesday March 26, 2003
A 53-YEAR-OLD Cooma man appeared in Gosford Local Court yesterday charged with being part of a syndicate that allegedly grew a $28 million cannabis crop at Nimmitabel in the state's south.
Salvatore Catalano, labourer, of Bombala Street, Cooma, was arrested yesterday morning during a raid on a unit in Junction Road, Terrigal.
Three other men were arrested during simultaneous raids on homes in Bringelly and Green Valley in Sydney's west.
Catalano faced court late yesterday charged with cultivating a large quantity of a prohibited plant. He did not enter a plea to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail.
In opposing bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Kerri Akers told the court that police alleged Catalano was one of the principal parties involved in the plantation.
"The charges are exceptionally serious in terms of the number of plants located," she said.
Sergeant Akers told the court that the police case would rely on a large number of telephone and electronic intercepts and evidence from 30 witnesses.
The court also heard that an organised crime syndicate was responsible for establishing the plantation.
Registrar John Arms refused bail and the case was adjourned to Queanbeyan Local Court on March 28.
© 2003 Central Coast Herald
