The Office of Drug Control (ODC) has handed Cannatrek six infringement notices amounting to A$99,000, following alleged violations of the company's medicinal cannabis licence.
According to the ODC, Cannatrek failed to meet its obligations under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 "to ensure it maintains a system of security at all times at the location where the activities authorised by its licence are undertaken."
The regulator noted that this requirement "helps prevent illegal or unauthorised removal of cannabis plants or cannabis drugs."
The infringement notices are tied to alleged breaches at Cannatrek's facility in Queensland.
The ODC stressed that licence holders are expected to understand and adhere to their responsibilities under the act and all associated licence conditions, warning that non-compliance can lead to civil or criminal proceedings in addition to financial penalties.
Cannatrek said in a statement: "The infringement notices relate to an incident which occurred at Cannatrek's cultivation site where it was targeted by criminal activity."
The company, which has operated a medicinal cannabis licence at the site since 2018, described the incident as the first of its kind at the location.
It continued: "Cannatrek takes these allegations seriously and has conducted a comprehensive review of its security infrastructure and procedures at the site.
"[We] respect the decision and will proactively work with the ODC to develop measures to counter organised crime across the medicinal cannabis industry in Australia.
"As this incident remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by Queensland Police, Cannatrek is not in a position to make any further comment at this time."
