Michael Nguyen sentenced after Anzac Day search revealed heroin dealing business and his 20-year addiction

A man has been jailed after people arrived at his house to buy heroin – while police were searching it, a court has heard.

A man has been jailed after several people arrived at this house to collect their drugs while police were searching it, a court has heard.

Michael Nguyen, 34, was sentenced in the District Court last month for trafficking heroin where it was heard he had been injecting heroin since he was 15 years old.

In sentencing, Judge Paul Muscat said Nguyen was found in possession of 3.55g of heroin after a search of his property, as well as other drugs, but initially told police they were for personal use.

“I was told you had cut that heroin with sugar so that the heroin that you intended to use, and well, would have gone further than the amount you had originally purchased,” he said.

“Despite what you told the police about the heroin being for your own use, there were messages on your telephone that were from people wanting to buy drugs from you.

“Indeed, while the police were searching your residence, a number of people attended there, some of whom had cash in their possession. Obviously, they attended at your residence to purchase drugs from you.”

The man had been using heroin since he was 15. Picture: File

Judge Muscat said the search, on the morning of Anzac Day 2023, uncovered other drugs and drug paraphernalia.

“(Police) located some methylamphetamine, suboxone strips, phones, small scales, a taser and some cash. That led the police to arrest you,” he said.

“During a search of your person, police discovered a small powder ball in cling wrap weighing about 13g. When analysed 3.55g of that total was heroin.”

Judge Muscat said Nguyen had previously been imprisoned for trafficking in heroin in 2012 and for possessing heroin for supply in 2014.

“When you were young, your mother was involved with men who were using heroin,” he said. “You therefore learned the heroin business for a young age.

“You started injecting heroin when you were about 15 years old.”

Judge Mustcat said Nguyen’s offending history was consistent with having to fund his addiction.

“You were using between 0.06g and 0.08g of heroin every day,” he said.

Nguyen was sentenced to three years, seven months and 11 days imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years.

The sentence was backdated to January 31.