Edward Nguyen jailed for six months after being caught with 25kg of cannabis in Adelaide Airport bust

A gambling addict has met his fate in court after he was busted with 25kg of cannabis inside luggage at Adelaide Airport and it wasn’t his first time, a court has heard.

A man who was busted with a quarter of a million dollars worth of cannabis at Adelaide Airport will only spend six months behind bars so he can continue his rehabilitation.

Edward Nguyen, 28, was shown leniency by the court after he foolishly agreed to be a courier to pay off his gambling debt.

The drugs had already been checked in for boarding before they were discovered by airport staff last May.

It is understood the sealed bags of cannabis had not been picked up by the airport’s X-ray machines.
During sentencing on Friday, the District Court heard the 25kg of cannabis could have yielded a profit of up to $268,000 if sold in ounces.

Edward Nguyen pleaded guilty to trafficking in a marketable quantity of a controlled drug. Photo: 7NEWS

The court heard the cannabis was worth over $250,000 if sold in ounces. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Nguyen was charged after Australian Federal Police discovered 25kg of cannabis inside checked luggage at Adelaide Airport. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The court heard Nguyen was also found with two mobile phones, with applications installed that could factory reset the device if attempts were made to extract data or a duress passcode was entered.

“These applications were all designed to protect the integrity of the criminal enterprise,” Judge Ian Press said.

Nguyen claimed he borrowed $5000 from a friend of a friend to fund his gambling addiction.

“When you could not repay it you were informed you repay the debt by acting as a courier on this occasion,” Judge Press said.

The court heard Nguyen claimed it was an isolated occasion, however the prosecution pointed to multiple “highly suspicious” flights where he sometimes stayed in capital cities for only a number of hours.

Judge Press said due to the short stays and Nguyen’s need for money he was satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Nguyen had delivered drugs to another city on at least one other occasion.

Nguyen pleaded guilty to trafficking in a marketable quantity of a controlled drug.
The court previously heard a psychologist determined Nguyen satisfied the diagnostic criteria for a pathological gambling disorder, as well as being a people pleaser.

The court heard Nguyen, who is studying a certificate in fitness, had commenced counselling and hadn’t gambled since his arrest.

Judge Press jailed Nguyen for two years and 11 months jail.

However, he ordered Nguyen be released on a two year recognisance order after serving six months so he could continue his rehabilitation.

“While I accept there were others who intended to make far greater amounts of money than you, you showed a willingness to involve yourself in such an offence,” he said.