More charges over NSW drug set-up

Further charges have been laid over a hydroponic cannabis set-up at a NSW property, where a young child was allegedly locked in a room for long periods.

Two men aged 28 and 19, and a 26-year-old woman were charged with a number of offences on December 18 after police discovered a sophisticated hydroponic set-up and 255 cannabis plants at a home in Elands, near Taree.

Following further investigations, police on Wednesday arrested a 32-year-old man in Ryde.

He is expected to face Burwood Local Court on Thursday on charges including indoor cultivation of a large commercial quantity of cannabis, two counts of possessing firearms, defacing firearm identification marks, possessing a shortened firearm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Investigations also led to a 25-year-old woman being charged with drugs and weapons offences.

Four children, aged between 18 months and nine years old were found at the home and placed in the care of NSW Family and Community Services.

Police said at the time they would allege one of the children was locked in a room for long periods of time in the preceding weeks.