Police have charged a prisoner in connection with a large-scale hydroponic cannabis cultivation operation uncovered near Lithgow, New South Wales. The investigation began in June after officers received reports of suspected cannabis growing activity in the area.

On July 16, New South Wales Police raided a property in Littleton, where they discovered 124 cannabis plants still growing, alongside 100 harvested plants and approximately 30 kilograms of dried cannabis leaves. The drugs were found across six rooms, with a considerable amount of equipment used for cultivation also seized. Authorities estimated the total street value of the confiscated cannabis to exceed $200,000.

Following further inquiries, police visited Silverwater jail on Wednesday and interrogated a 50-year-old inmate, who was subsequently charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and cultivating an indictable quantity of cannabis. The man was denied bail and is scheduled to appear in Bail Division Court 6 on Thursday.

Police have indicated that the investigation remains open, with additional inquiries underway.