Raid on Hunter House Uncovers Cannabis Set-up

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have uncovered a large hydroponic cannabis set-up near Cessnock in the Hunter.

At about 10:30pm on Monday night police stopped a Blue Ford Sedan XR6 on Middle Road heading towards Paxton near Cessnock. Police searched the car and allegedly found an amount of cash.

The 50-year-old driver was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station.

Police then applied for a search warrant for a property on Middle Road at Paxton.

During raid on the home police allegedly found a hydroponic setup in the rear shed where nine cannabis plants were being grown.

Police say they also found an indoor setup with more cannabis plants, about $3,000 cash which they say is believed to be the proceeds of crime, cannabis leaf throughout the premises, and small resealable bags believed to have contained around 600 grams of methamphetamine.

Police seized all of the items and interviewed a 46-year-old man believed to be the occupant of the home.

He was handed a court attendance notice for cultivating prohibited plants.

He faces Cessnock Local Court next month.

Cessnock Gaol Officer Charged after Smuggling Contraband into Facility

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's alleged that a Cessnock Correctional Centre officer not once, not twice, but at least ten times took contraband into the goal throughout this year.

Police have charged a 29-year-old Corrective Services employee after a drug dog operation on Monday (December 18, 2017) uncovered drugs in the officer's wallet.

The man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was interviewed.

Police allege this isn't the first time the officer had taken contraband into the facility - he's been accused of bringing various types of contraband in on ten other occasions and exchanging the contraband for cash.

The 29-year-old has been charged with two counts of agent corruptly receive benefit, bring drugs into place of detention and two counts of unlawfully deliver or attempt to deliver anything to inmate.

The officer has been suspended from duty, and was granted conditional bail to appear in Cessnock Local Court on January 24, 2018.