The men – aged 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 46 – have been charged with producing and possessing a dangerous drug after the bust at a property near Boondooma, northwest of Kingaroy about 6am on Friday.

Police allegedly found several large greenhouses containing more than 15,680 cannabis plants and 50 kilograms of dried cannabis, generators, and hydroponic and other equipment.

“This is certainly one of the largest hydroponic cannabis grow production processes we’ve seen in Queensland, Detective Inspector Brad Phelps said on Monday.

It appeared substantial effort went into site selection, clearing the property and acquiring the equipment needed to produce “this massive amount of cannabis”, he said.

Police believe the operation could be part of a larger organised crime syndicate.

Officers estimate the street value of the cannabis seized, including the plants, to be $39.9 million.

The raid was planned after police found 200kg of cannabis in a car they pulled over near Helidon in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane last month.

Drug squad officers have destroyed the seized drugs and dismantled the hydroponic equipment at the Boondooma property, with investigations continuing.

The seven men have been remanded in custody and are due to reappear in Murgon Magistrates Court on August 16.