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Young child locked up in shed at hydroponic cannabis farm, police say Young child locked up in shed at hydroponic cannabis farm, police say
(about 1 hour later)
A young child was locked in a room for long periods at a NSW property where three adults were allegedly growing cannabis with a sophisticated hydroponic set-up.A young child was locked in a room for long periods at a NSW property where three adults were allegedly growing cannabis with a sophisticated hydroponic set-up.
Three other children aged between one and nine years old were found at a property at Elands, northwest of Taree, last Friday, and all have been taken into the care of NSW Family and Community ServicesThree other children aged between one and nine years old were found at a property at Elands, northwest of Taree, last Friday, and all have been taken into the care of NSW Family and Community Services
“At the home, police allegedly discovered a sophisticated hydroponics set-up and seized 225 cannabis plants in various stages of maturity,” police said.“At the home, police allegedly discovered a sophisticated hydroponics set-up and seized 225 cannabis plants in various stages of maturity,” police said.
“Police will allege one of the children was locked in a room for long periods of time over the past few weeks.”“Police will allege one of the children was locked in a room for long periods of time over the past few weeks.”
Following the raids, a 28-year-old man, a 26-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man were charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant. The older pair were also charged with detaining a person with intent for financial advantage. Detective Chief Inspector Peter McKenna told the ABC it was a “shocking” case.
Photos taken by police during the raid showed what appeared to be a deck, which retracted along metal rails to reveal a hidden staircase.
Electrical wires and ventilation tubes run through a hatch, and down stairs to what is alleged to be a large cannabis growing room.
“Police allegedly discovered a sophisticated hydroponics setup and seized 225 cannabis plants in various stages of maturity,” police said.
Two men and a woman were charged and brought before Taree local court following the raid.
Bowdie Kliemann, 28, pleaded guilty to cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant and detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage.
His co-accused Hayley Potter, 26, did not enter a plea to the same charges while Jason Potter, 19, did not enter a plea to the one charge of cultivating a large commercial quantity of a prohibited plant he was facing.
All three were refused bail and will remain in custody until 2 February, when they are expected to reappear before the same court.