Kyla
04-09-2004, 03:52 PM
Phone tap led to bumper drug bust
April 10, 2004
A SYDNEY man charged with cultivating one of the state's largest cannabis crops was allegedly caught by police phone taps giving advice on how to harvest it.
Demitrios Hantzis, 38, from Connells Point, faced Parramatta Bail Court yesterday charged with several drug offences, and was alleged to be behind a $45 million crop seized at Narrabri on Thursday.
Officers found 3.2 tonnes of cannabis hidden in a shed.
Hantzis was arrested after Drug Squad police made simultaneous 7am raids on the Narrabri property and his Connells Point home.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Lisa McEvoy told the court police had intercepted numerous phone calls Hantzis made to the property in which he gave instructions on drug harvesting, care and cultivation.
At Hantzis' home police found 23 bags of cannabis weighing 11kg.
Police took documentation relating to a large sum of currency being transferred to a Cypriot account.
Police said the Narrabri 200 sq m crop, was of a "significant" quality.
Hantzis was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug and goods suspected stolen on property.
His lawyer Steven Maris told the court his client denied the charges.
Hantzis was refused bail on grounds he was a flight risk. The matter was adjourned to Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.
April 10, 2004
A SYDNEY man charged with cultivating one of the state's largest cannabis crops was allegedly caught by police phone taps giving advice on how to harvest it.
Demitrios Hantzis, 38, from Connells Point, faced Parramatta Bail Court yesterday charged with several drug offences, and was alleged to be behind a $45 million crop seized at Narrabri on Thursday.
Officers found 3.2 tonnes of cannabis hidden in a shed.
Hantzis was arrested after Drug Squad police made simultaneous 7am raids on the Narrabri property and his Connells Point home.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Lisa McEvoy told the court police had intercepted numerous phone calls Hantzis made to the property in which he gave instructions on drug harvesting, care and cultivation.
At Hantzis' home police found 23 bags of cannabis weighing 11kg.
Police took documentation relating to a large sum of currency being transferred to a Cypriot account.
Police said the Narrabri 200 sq m crop, was of a "significant" quality.
Hantzis was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug and goods suspected stolen on property.
His lawyer Steven Maris told the court his client denied the charges.
Hantzis was refused bail on grounds he was a flight risk. The matter was adjourned to Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.