Police put dent in dope trade

Police are claiming a major breakthrough in the supply of cannabis with a raid in northwest Tasmania ending a seven-year commercial operation which could have been feeding the mainland market.

A 52-year-old man has been charged with trafficking after police found a "grow house" near Smithton containing more than 1000 plants with an estimated street value of about $2.3 million.

"We believe this will make a significant dent in the supply of cannabis in Tasmania but we're certainly not ruling out talking to our other agencies on the mainland with the view that maybe it might have headed there as well," Detective Inspector Kim Steven told reporters on Thursday.