Seven men charged over $40m South Burnett drug bust face Murgon court

The seven men allegedly involved in a major drug operation that produced hundreds of kilograms of marijuana as part of a larger organised crime syndicate with overseas connections have fronted court for the first time.

The seven men charged after nearly $40 million worth of marijuana and an alleged major drug operation with reported links to organised crime were uncovered on a rural South Burnett property have faced court for the first time.

The Dung Le, Hieu Huu Nguyen, Minh Van Truong, Van Tuan Ngo, Ninh Hoai Nguyen, Tony Anh Cao, and Van Tuan Dang all had their matters mentioned in Murgon Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

All seven men, aged 42, 35, 41, 40, 43, 36, and 46 are charged with one count each of producing a dangerous drug and possessing a dangerous drug.

Police footage after officers uncovered an alleged marijuana operation worth nearly $40 million on a South Burnett property. Photo: Queensland Police Service

Police claim the group were involved in a huge drug operation being run from a former Boondooma cattle property, where officers seized about 15,680 marijuana plants and another 50kg dried marijuana with an estimated street value of $39.9 million during a raid earlier this month.

It will be alleged an extensive hydroponic system used to pump chemicals and fertilisers around to several “growing igloos” was also found at the site, which would have enabled the team to produce up to three or four crops of the drug each year.

The investigation into the alleged drug operation began in July after police intercepted a vehicle carrying about 200kg of processed marijuana on the Warrego Highway at Helidon, which was allegedly being transported from the Boondooma site.

Drug and Serious Crime Group Detective Inspector Brad Phelps said at the time of the seven men’s arrests last week that police alleged the marijuana supply would have been distributed through Queensland and wider Australia, with the Burnett operation likely linked to a much larger drug ring.

Detective Inspector Brad Phelps speaking at the press conference on a massive drug bust on a South Burnett property on Monday, August 8. Photo: contributed

“Certainly it would appear that this is part of a very large organised crime syndicate, and this may be one tentacle of that syndicate,” he said.

“Our investigations are ongoing, but we suspect that a lot of profits and proceeds from this were being sent overseas.”

The group have been in custody since their arrests, with only Mr Ninh Nguyen expected to make an application for bail in the Murgon court on August 24.

His co-accuseds’ matters were adjourned to October 11 to allow police prosecutors to compile full briefs of evidence.

All seven men will be remanded in custody until their next court appearances.