Ngoc Chien Tran charged with cultivating $4 million of cannabis for criminal group in Douglas Park
A man has been charged with cultivating cannabis plants for an alleged criminal group after police uncovered six greenhouses with more than a thousand cannabis plants.
The Bowral News
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A man has been charged with cultivating more than a thousand cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $4.4 million at a property in Douglas Park.
Ngoc Chien Tran, 55, appeared in Picton Local Court via video link on Thursday after being arrested by police the day before.
Police raided the property on Prices Road in Douglas Park at 5am on Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into the cultivation and supply of cannabis throughout NSW.
During their search, police allege they found more than 1200 plants contained in six greenhouses on the property. Police also allegedly uncovered equipment used to grow and supply cannabis.
According to police estimates, the plants are worth more than $4.4 million.
Police allege Mr Tran was cultivating the cannabis plants to supply throughout the region as part of a criminal group.
The Riverwood resident has been charged with two counts of cultivating a prohibited plant (large commercial quantity), two counts of participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity, and dealing with property proceeds of crime.
Mr Tran appeared in Picton Court on Thursday via video link, where he was refused bail. He is ordered to attend court on September 29 to enter pleas.
This is the largest single seizure by Police Strike Force Harthouse. Previous raids on properties in Mangrove Mountain and Parramatta in May and June resulted in the confiscation of two supplies of cannabis worth $3 million.
Since May, Strike Force Harthouse has executed five search warrants which have resulted in the seizure of cannabis plants worth an estimated $10.5 million.
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