Australian cult leader arrested for drugs

Sydney, Australia - THE Australian leader of celebrity religious sect Kabbalah was arrested on drugs charges yesterday after police allegedly found cannabis crops growing inside three luxury Sydney properties owned by the woman and her three sons.

Detectives said Gilla Mogilevsky, 53, and her sons, aged 23, 24, and 26, rented a renovated St Ives property in Sydney's North Shore which they used to oversee three neighbouring homes where they grew up to 1000 plants at a time.

Police swooped on the Kabbalah leader and two of her sons at about 6.30am (AEST) after raids on the properties in Cowan Rd and Killeaton St.

A third son was detained on the Gold Coast.

The arrests came as the New South Wales Government this week tightened legislation on hydroponic cannabis, allowing growers to be charged with cultivating commercial quantities for significantly smaller crops.