Josh Meijer, who runs the Hotel Orange with his licensee wife, Emma Meijer, was charged with three offences, possession of a prohibited drug, enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis for commercial purpose, which was a strictly indictable offence, and supply/knowingly take part in the supply of a prohibited drug.

Parkes police officers attached to the rural crime unit carried out three months of surveillance on the property in north Parkes, which was rented in Josh Meijer’s name, police facts said. 

Officers watched the 34-year-old Josh Meijer come and go from the property regularly during the period between May 10 and July 14, 2014. 

Josh Meijer was filmed during this period and his movements were documented by detectives.

Once officers gathered enough evidence against him, police executed a search warrant on the property on July 9, 2014 and found 35 cannabis plants growing in a hydroponic set up inside.

The property was leased to Josh Meijer, but was never occupied, except for a pony on the land that Meijer cared for during the time he was growing the marijuana plants. 

Police said there was evidence inside the home to prove Josh Meijer had been harvesting the product. 

There was also evidence to suggest Josh Meijer had been propagating cuttings to produce more plants as officers found 24 cutting inside the home. 

“There was evidence of an ongoing commercial enterprise,” police said.

He was also caught with 390 grams of ready-to-use cannabis.

The street value of the cultivated crop is more than $140,000.

Josh Meijer will be sentenced in June in the Parramatta District Court and could face 10 years in prison.