Buckland Park: Eight people charged over large-scale cannabis crop to remain behind bars until August

Eight people charged over a large-scale cannabis crop discovered in Adelaide’s north will bring in the new year from behind bars.

Eight people charged over a cannabis crop discovered in Adelaide’s northern suburbs will remain behind bars until at least August despite claims by some they had no involvement in the large-scale operation.

Siblings Vu and Phuong Le, along with another man, Thanh Nguyen, had their bail applications refused in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard the property on Nemesis Court at Buckland Park, where the massive crop was discovered on Tuesday, is owned by 50-year-old Mr Le.

More than 7000 plants and 300 kilograms of drying cannabis were found in an operation police said was one of the biggest in recent South Australian history and would have likely been worth millions.

More than 7000 cannabis plants at various stages of maturity were found in glasshouses at Buckland Park on Tuesday. Picture: SA Police

The Elizabeth Magistrates Court was told there were up to 55 glasshouses on the Buckland Park property. Picture: Nine News

There were up to 55 glasshouses on the four-hectare property, lawyers told the court, but only two were used for farming by Mr Le.

Another 10 are occupied by his 49-year-old sister, who began farming in 2008 and opened her own produce business.

The remaining glasshouses were rented out by other people, with lawyers for the accused arguing they had not been involved with the houses where the drug was grown.

But a police prosecutor told the court both were caught among the crop.

“(Mr Le) was found inside number two greenhouse, which had a number of mature cannabis plants, racks of drying cannabis,” he said.

“Ms Le was also found there, she was hiding under plastic … in that same greenhouse.”

In denying bail, Magistrate Mark Semmens said the seriousness of the allegations outweighed all other factors.

Supporters of Vu and Phuong Le, two of the eight people charged over the cannabis crop, leave the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A group of supporters attended the Elizabeth Magistrates Court for the bail applications on Thursday morning.

In the case of Mr Nguyen, 28, the court was told he had been in Australia for seven years and held a bridging visa.

Olivia Fantis, for Mr Nguyen, said her client being found at the site was his only link to the operation.

She said it was possible he may not get a trial date until 2023, but Mr Semmens again refused bail.

A cannabis crop found at Buckland Park. Eight people were arrested over the drug bust. Picture: SA Police

Four others also appeared in court by video link but did not proceed with applications, while one was not scheduled to appear on Thursday.

All eight were assisted in court by a Vietnamese interpreter.

Police asked for a 14-month adjournment due to the size of the operation, but Mr Semmens set a date in August.

He said those that had not applied for bail may do so in the interim, while those that had bail refused may appeal to the Supreme Court.

Originally published as Buckland Park: Eight people charged over large-scale cannabis crop to remain behind bars until August