By Victoria Stone-Meadows
A BELGRAVE man pleaded guilty to three drug charges in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today after properties in his name were raided in August this year.
Geoffrey Barnard appeared via video link for a committal mention where he pleaded guilty to charges including cultivation of a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence and possession of a drug of dependence (namely Tetrahydrocannabinol or hash oil).
Mr Barnard was charged with the drug offences after Croydon Divisional Tasking Unit raided properties in Belgrave, Ferntree Gully, Boronia and Bayswater that contained commercial quantities of cannabis.
During the raids on Wednesday, 19 August, police seized over 2000 cannabis plants and seedlings from the three warehouses as well as from Mr Barnard’s home address in Belgrave about 6.50am.
Police also located sophisticated hydroponic operations in the warehouses along with a sophisticated cannabis oil extraction process at the warehouse on Dorset Road in Ferntree Gully.
Mr Barnard will next appear in the County Court on 2 February, 2016.
