Police charge two more people over syndicate but expect more arrests to be made

A family run syndicate that harboured a million dollars worth of baby formula, manuka honey and health supplements were “taking food out of the mouth of babes,” police allege. Four members of the Ke family have been charged over their alleged roles.

• Sydney family ‘behind’ baby formula syndicate

A family run syndicate that harboured a million dollars worth of baby formula, manuka honey and health supplements were “taking food out of the mouth of babes,” police allege.

Four members of the Ke family, who run a Carlingford newsagency, have been charged over their alleged roles in the operation which police say employed thieves to steal the goods in Australia then sell them in China.

Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said on Monday two people outside of the family had also been charged.

Wueqi Ke, 53, was charged for participating in a criminal group in December. Picture: John Grainger

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“Police will alleged that a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old man were actively involved in the organised theft of baby formula across Sydney and they were subsequently charged in participating in a criminal group,” he said.

“We will continue to pursue these people because not only are they making a quick dive out of greed, and disadvantaging the mums and dads of Australia, they also literally taking baby formula out of the mouths of babes.”

The family run syndicate are accused of employing thieves to steal baby formula, manuka honey and vitamins from stores. Picture: Supplied/NSW Police

Police say more arrests will be made.

“I believe there’s going to be more than half a dozen more people to be arrested in relation to this and maybe more,” Det Supt Doherty said.

“But again that’s why we want to seek assistance from the public because I think there’s a lot of people who are involved in the organised theft the baby formula across Sydney.”

The matriarch of the Ke family, Lie Ke, pleaded not guilty in court in September charged with directing the group’s activities among a raft of offences.

Jian Ke, 31, was arrested over the weekend and charged after he landed in Sydney from China. Picture: Damian Shaw

Police say she ran more than dozen mules that targeted stores in Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.

Her husband Wueqi Ke, who was charged for participating in a criminal group in December, was tight-lipped outside the family’s Carlingford home on Monday.

Xiaoyu Ke, who was charged earlier this month, and Jian Feng Ke, who was charged after being arrested at Sydney Airport on Saturday, are also facing the same charge as their father.

All four family members also face charges of dealing in the proceeds of crime

They are due to appear in court next month.