Drug Admission
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday May 2, 2000
A Nowra businessman accused of ``masterminding" a South Coast drug-growing operation worth more than $2.5 million has pleaded guilty to cultivating 955 cannabis plants.
Tyson Lee French, 29, of Hillcrest Ave, South Nowra, pleaded guilty when he appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court yesterday.
He was committed for sentencing at Bega District Court on a date to be fixed. Bail was refused.
French was arrested in March after a series of police raids uncovered two drug plantations in the Clyde State Forest near Batemans Bay.
Police described the drug-growing operation as ``well-organised", with the value of plants and drying cannabis leaf seized conservatively put at more than $2.5 million.
Three other men were also charged over the plantations.
Peter Raymond Trewartha, 31, labourer, of Nowra, and Craig James Thorn, 43, of Queensland, were charged with possessing unauthorised firearms and possessing, cultivating and supplying a prohibited drug.
Both men pleaded guilty to the charges and were committed for sentencing at Wollongong District Court on a date to be fixed. Bail was not applied for and was formally refused.
Another man was also charged over the matter and was refused bail in Queanbeyan Local Court in March.
© 2000 Illawarra Mercury
