$2.8m of cannabis seized in Hunter homes

A major drugs raid by NSW police has led to the seizure of more than 1400 cannabis plants with a street value of $2.8 million.

Officers arrested and charged five Vietnamese nationals from six different properties in the Hunter Valley region on Wednesday following a three-month investigation.

The houses had been fitted with fake walls and extra rooms solely dedicated to the cultivation of hydroponically grown cannabis, police said.

One of the properties had a baby walker in the garage and Christmas lights outside in a bid to blend into the neighbourhood.

Hundreds of cannabis plants were found in each of the homes, police said.

"Whoever is behind these indoor cannabis crops has gambled with not being detected in a regional area and they've been proved seriously mistaken," Detective Superintendent Craig Jackson in a statement.

A 25-year-old male student, 37-year-old male illegal immigrant, 26-year-old male illegal immigrant, 23-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man were all charged with cultivating prohibited plant - large commercial quality.

All five have been refused bail and are due to appear at Maitland Local Court on Thursday.