A MUNNO Para West man has been arrested following a $6 million cannabis bust across Adelaide last week.

Last Wednesday, police conducted 19 searches at homes across Adelaide, including one in Munno Para West, which resulted in three men being arrested.

In total, 642 cannabis plants, 61kg of dried cannabis, $29,000 in cash and one vehicle were confiscated, with the drugs’ total value estimated at more than $6 million.

Police suspected the cannabis was intended to be sold in South Australia and in other states, with evidence suggesting the proceeds were being sent to European countries.

The 40-year-old Munno Para West man was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis and diverting electricity.

He was bailed and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on August 21.

SA police Serious and Organised Crime Branch officer in charge Detective Superintendent Stephen Taylor said the raids and arrests “should act as a warning” to organised crime.

“We would suggest they (all the searched homes) were part of the same network and we would anticipate further arrests in the coming days,” he said.

“Really, organised crime should be quite nervous and should be quite worried because we have a large number of detectives, investigators and intelligence staff. There soul job is to come to work to look at their vulnerabilities and identify criminal networks.

“Whilst they may be enjoying the benefits of their criminal enterprise with their high-end vehicles and luxury homes, there’s a fair chance that they’ll be caught. They’re literally rolling the dice with their own freedom.

“At some stage their number will come up and they’ll have plenty of time to reflect on whether or not it was all worth it.”

The raids were conducted as part of SA police’s Operation Hemp, with Detective Superintendent Taylor confident his branch had “disrupted this network completely”.

He said evidence existed that all three men arrested knew each other and there was an “element of sophistication and organisation” within the network.

“With this particular syndicate, it appears as though all of the houses were set up purely as a hydroponics concern,” Detective Superintendent Taylor said

“I think we had 284 plants in one house alone. There was no evidence to suggest that people were residing in those homes. They were set up purely as a commercial enterprise.

“We can always use the advice and assistance of the community. It really is a community problem, it’s not just a SAPOL problem where we can arrest and seize our way out of the problem.”