Western Sydney drug “manager” Yae Lin Boo pleads guilty to directing large-scale cannabis syndicate

The lavish lifestyle of a drug syndicate “manager” has come crashing down after NSW police tracked his Mercedes Benz to a series of “growhouses” across western Sydney.

The lavish lifestyle of a drug syndicate middleman has come crashing down after NSW police tracked his Mercedes Benz to “growhouses”, all across western Sydney.

A drug middleman whose underlings managed “growhouses” across western Sydney has told a court his $1000-day gambling addiction and unemployment had led him to the criminal enterprise.

Yao Lin Boo is the ninth and final member of the drug syndicate to face court after pleading guilty to knowingly taking part in large-scale drug supply and directing a criminal group.

The 30-year-old was arrested by NSW Police at his Rhodes apartment in February 2022, following a months-long investigation into a rural cannabis operation in Sydney’s west.

Using a range of methods – including phone taps and physical surveillance, detectives tracked Boo as he visited drug houses in Old Guildford, Minto, Moorebank, and Schofields.

Agreed police facts reveal Boo was regularly seen attending the houses in his white Mercedes Benz sedan, helping ferry the eight co-accused “crop sitters” he commanded.

Police recorded Boo attending a Moorebank property, near Liverpool, 137 times in a 126 day period. The disused and dismantled growhouse was raided by police in February 2022.

The other properties were still in operation when police launched dramatic raids in early 2022, including in Minto where as many as 2379 cannabis plants were located.

The property housed 20 separate greenhouses, 16 of which were being used for cannabis. The plants were thoroughly irrigated and supported by bamboo-struts.

When NSW Police swooped in on the property, many of the co-accused were still at work.

Bursting into one of the greenhouses, officers shouted at the three men at work inside to: “get to the ground”.

Instead, the trio fled but were apprehended only a short time later.

A search of the home also uncovered more than 1kg of cannabis bud, as well as personal items including tens of thousands of dollars in cash, Malaysian identification information, and 16 prepaid SIMS.

Similar items were found in Boo’s flat and at the other “growhouses”.

At a Schofields home, police located a further 1938 cannabis plants.

In Guildford, the syndicate had converted a two-storey home into a hydroponic lab.

More than 190 plants, as well as lamps and shades, were located in the four bedrooms.

Police located a cigarette butt in one of the room’s with Boo’s DNA.

He was charged with directing the operation, including diverting mains electricity power.

In total, more than $300,000 worth in power is believed to have been extracted.

Boo’s lawyer told Penrith Court the 30-year-old still reported to a “big boss”.

“He’s in a higher role than the co-accused, but he’s not at the top,” Bo’s lawyer said. “He was not the financier, and was not to receive any of the profits.”

Tapped phone calls also refer to a superior, to whom Boo reported to.

Penrith Local Court

The court heard that all eight co-accused – Wei Yin Chen, Swee Guan Gan, Sin Keaw Ooi, Yuen Wai Sae, Deric Tan, Choong Zhong Tay, Han Syen Teoh, and Hui Rong Yam – received jail terms of between two to five and a half years when they fronted the same court late last year.

The prosecutor told the court many had provided similar explanations about their reason for joining the drug syndicate, mainly around their struggles finding employment.

Boo’s lawyer also told Judge Sophia Beckett Boo had “good prospects” for rehabilitation, having found employment while he’d been behind bars on remand.

“He’s diligent and hardworking – you say,” Justice Beckett laughed. “That’s exactly what Boo has been doing in his work in the syndicate.”

Judge Beckett also noted Boo’s alleged gambling and lavish lifestyle evidenced how much he benefited from his “mid-level manager” role, including his Mercedes Benz car.

Unlike the others, Boo was not seen attending a fifth site in Auburn.

Boo will reappear before the same court May 16 for sentence.

The court heard co-accused Sin Keaw Ooi appealing their sentence.