A Lileah man who operated a “sophisticated” cannabis operation will spend at least 19 months in jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But John Joseph Moore, 52, will not be required to repay more than $900,000 in proceeds of crime.
Earlier this month, Moore pleaded guilty to major drug trafficking offences in the Supreme Court, in Burnie.
Crown prosecutor Jody Dennison told the court Moore’s Lileah property was raided by police on September 7, 2016. Inside, 922 cannabis plants were located, as well as about 57.6 kilograms of bagged cannabis head.
Mr Dennison said, according to Moore’s admissions, he made $137,600 from the sale of cannabis each year from 2010-14. In 2015, he doubled the operation to make about $275,000. He made about $160,000 in 2016 before the search warrant was executed.
Moore said the operation yielded 7.26 kilograms of cannabis every six weeks, which he was selling to one person in Hobart.
Defence counsel Katy Edwards told the court Moore was a reclusive man, who was using his earnings to fund his retirement.
On Thursday, Chief Justice Alan Blow sentenced Moore to three years, two months in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving half of the term.
Chief Justice Blow described Moore’s operation as sophisticated and commercial. But he said it would not be in the interests of justice to grant a pecuniary penalty order sought by the Crown for more than $900,000.
The state will take control of Moore’s property, Nissan Navara and more than $20,000 in cash found inside his home.