Two men, woman make no bail bid after Douglas Park cannabis crop arrest
Two men and a woman were unable to apply for bail without an interpreter after they were arrested for allegedly growing 2,817 cannabis plants on a rural property in the Macarthur region.
Macarthur
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Three people will spend at least another three nights in custody before they apply for bail after $5.6m worth of cannabis plants were seized in the Macarthur region on the weekend.
Phuong Kim Le, Van Thanh Pham and Van Long Pham were due to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday but they did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
An interpreter was unable to be found to assist with the bail applications.
Camden police’s proactive crime team started investigations into the cultivation of cannabis on rural properties across the southwest metropolitan area in February this year.
Nine people have been arrested, with 3,342 plants and 240kg of cannabis bud – worth approximately $8.3m – seized.
As part of ongoing inquiries, about 1.40pm on Saturday, investigators, with the assistance from the public order and riot squad and dog Squad executed a search warrant at a property on Prices Road, Douglas Park.
Van Long Pham, 36, allegedly attempted to flee on foot into bushland when police arrived but was arrested a short time later.
Le, a 52-year-old woman and Van Thanh Pham, a 47-year-old man, were also arrested at the scene.
During a search of the property, police allegedly located 2,817 cannabis plants, 14 greenhouses, and equipment consistent with the manufacturing of cannabis.
Officers from Burwood, Fairfield, Bankstown and Campbelltown commands dismantled and destroyed the crop.
The three people were taken to Narellan Police Station where they were charged with knowingly taking part-cultivate a large commercial quantity and found on/entering/leaving drug premises.
The cases were adjourned to Wednesday at Picton Local Court.
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