Police uncover Sydney drug ring, seize $13 million worth of cannabis

Four men have been charged over a major drug ring operating in Sydney’s west after police uncovered an industrial-scale hydro house concealing thousands of cannabis plants worth $13 million.

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Four more men have been arrested after police uncovered a large-scale hydro house concealing more than $13 million worth of cannabis in Sydney’s west.

Police said they last year discovered a complex crime syndicate behind multiple hydro houses in Sydney’s south west following investigations into weed cultivation and money laundering.

The syndicate, which police allege was responsible for the supply of cannabis across NSW and interstate, was disrupted when police arrested twelve people in June 2019. They remain before the courts.

Detectives uncovered $13 million worth of weed in hydro houses at a property in Kemps Creek. Picture: NSW Police

The bust comes more than a year after twelve people were arrested over a major Sydney drug ring. Picture: NSW Police

Detectives raided a property on Devonshire Rd, Kemps Creek, early Tuesday as part of ongoing investigations into the syndicate.

Police found almost 4300 cannabis plants across 31 different green houses and a stash of almost $3700 cash.

Hong Quang Hoang, 41, Van Cong Tran, 26, Minh Hieu Nguyen, 23, and Le Van Tri, 19, all appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday charged with cultivating a prohibited plant at a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.

Tri was also charged with an additional count of cultivating a prohibited plant at a large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.

Four men were arrested and charged with drug cultivation after police uncovered 31 hydro houses in Sydney’s west. Picture: NSW Police

Detectives have charged four men and seized cannabis with a street value of nearly $13 million as part of an ongoing investigation into cannabis cultivation and money laundering., , In July 2019, the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission established Strike Force Riche to investigate a criminal syndicate involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering., , Picture: NSW Police

Police found almost 4,300 cannabis plants spanning 31 hydro houses. Picture: NSW Police

It will be further alleged that he was also involved in the large-scale cultivation of cannabis at a property in Gibberagee, where cannabis worth nearly $22 million was seized in June this year.

None of the men applied for bail and it was formally refused.

Investigations as part of Strike Force Riche are continuing.