Chau Son Le, 44, is one of five men charged over a mass haul uncovered in Port Kembla and Unanderra on Friday September 30.

Le briefly appeared in court on Saturday, charged with the cultivation of a large commercial quantity of cannabis.

Police indicated further charges of drug supply were likely.

Officers on general duty were patrolling an industrial area on Flinders Street in Port Kembla just before 2am Friday following reports of theft two days earlier according to tendered police facts.

They became suspicious after spotting a Lexus parked in front of what appeared to be a locked, empty shed with the car’s bonnet still warm, the facts said.

Court documents reveal officers then called for backup before storming the premises and discovering a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis set-up spanning six rooms, while the five occupants tried to flee by running in different directions.

Around 560 cannabis plants were seized along with 110 kilograms of cannabis leaf.

Further investigations led to a raid of another shed at Doyle Avenue in Unanderra, which detectives believe was also run by the same drug ring, the facts said.

It’s alleged a further 616 cannabis plants were uncovered.

Lake Illawarra Commander Superintendent Zoran Dzevlan​, praised the actions of officers which led to the discovery.

"I've never seen such a sophisticated hydroponic enterprise," he said.

"These results were not achieved by chance, but as a result of the old fashion instinctive traits that police officers have, together with dedicated and persistent police work."

In opposing bail for Le, police prosecutor Sergeant Anna Comer told the court on Saturday due to the seriousness of the offence there was “no doubt” the accused would serve a form of imprisonment.

“It’s a strong prosecution case with the accused caught in the act, present at the scene with a large commercial quantity of commercial drugs, also wearing a pair of gloves, so clearly in the act,” Sergeant Comer said.

Defence lawyer John Gallagher argued Le understood the implications and wanted the court to know he was a former businessman though his business had collapsed.

He will reappear in Wollongong Local Court on October 5 along with his co-accused.