'As simple as that': Police issue warning after $11m cannabis bust in Victoria

Vietnamese nationals with alleged ties to organised crime have been charged after police made a massive $11 million cannabis bust in Victoria. 

Police this week stormed two large rural properties in Dunluce and Kamarooka, as well as residential addresses in Deer Park and Maryborough, as part of investigations into an Asian crime syndicate. 

Eight men and women were arrested across the locations after more than 1.4 tonnes of weed was allegedly discovered and seized.  

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Organised Crime Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan said the arrests and seizure of alleged drugs was an "enormous win".

"These properties are incredibly remote and there were a number of sophisticated measures in place in an attempt to remain undetected by authorities," he said in a statement. 

"Organised crime entities living in rural parts of the state who think their distance from the city affords them anonymity or impunity – you are sadly mistaken. 

"You will be held to account no matter where you are. It is as simple as that."

The week of arrests began when officers were roped in by helicopters to a 13-acre property on Bealiba South Road in Dunluce on Wednesday.

There, they allegedly found several greenhouses containing about 1400 cannabis plants and infrastructure including solar panels and a generator to support the cultivation of the drug. 

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Two men, aged 32 and 42, from Vietnam were both charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and were remanded to face court next year. 

About an hour later that same day, detectives hit a property on Station Road in Deer Park. 

Authorities allegedly found a hydroponic set-up and about 250 cannabis plants.

Two men, aged 47 and 54, and a woman, 57, were all interviewed and released pending continued investigations. 

Then, officers were again roped into a 100-acre rural property on Bendigo-Tennyson Road in Kamarooka.

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Greenhouses, more than 1800 cannabis plants, and similar infrastructure found in Dunluce were allegedly located. 

Fire crews were called in to burn all the plants at the address. 

Two men, aged 29 and 31, and a woman, 29, from Vietnam were all charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and remanded to front court next year. 

The arrests came after investigators allegedly found a "sophisticated" hydroponic setup and more than 250 cannabis plants at a Box Street address in Maryborough on Monday. 

Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.