GRIFFITH'S top detective says he is "far from disappointed" despite a massive aerial drug operation in the district this week netting only a handful of marijuana plants.
About 20 officers from the state drug squad and Griffith LAC were part of the three-day sting, which saw a police airwing helicopter use an infrared camera to search for plants on local properties.
A similar operation in 2011 uncovered 11,000 plants and resulted in a string of arrests while a 2010 operation yielded 3000 plants.
This time, only 20 plants scattered across a number of properties were found and no arrests were made.
Police, however, raided two properties in Yenda and seized a number of exhibits in relation to a massive $18 million bust in Victoria's King Valley on Tuesday.
Griffith man Alam Noor, 38, is one of two men charged over the haul.
Griffith Police crime manager Paul Smith said the low number of plants uncovered in the Griffith operation suggested the command's strong-arm stance on drug cultivation was working.
"We're not disappointed at all; obviously previous operations have impacted on the number of outdoor crops here," Detective Inspector Smith said.
"Growers may well have moved plantations to other areas or moved them indoor.
"But by no means are we suggesting we've solved the cannabis issue, it would simply appear we've disrupted the activity."
He warned future operations could strike "at any time" and urged the public to continue working with police to catch drug offenders.
Anyone with information about drug cultivation or distribution should call Griffith Police, anonymously if required, on 6969 4299.