Thi Xuan Yen Nguyen granted home detention bail after allegedly trying to flee state

A woman accused of trafficking drugs and growing marijuana in a grow house has been granted bail after an alleged attempt to flee the state.

An accused drug trafficker was allegedly found by police at Adelaide Airport, trying to flee the state.

A 24-year-old western suburbs woman accused of drug trafficking has been granted home detention bail after police allegedly catching her trying to leave the state.

Thi Xuan Yen Nguyen appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link on Monday.

She was charged with the basic offence of cultivating a commercial quantity of controlled plant and trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

The court heard that Nguyen was arrested after police attended an Athol Park address and found what it alleged to be a cannabis grow house.

“Four rooms at the address were set up for the purpose of growing cannabis,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard 94 cannabis plants were found inside the Athol Park property and 5kg of dried cannabis on a drying rack.

A number of plastic bags suitable for packaging cannabis were also found, along with documents, including a driver’s licence, belonging to the accused.

A vehicle registered to the accused was also found, but she was not present at the time of the police search.

The court heard that on June 15 the accused was found by police allegedly attempting to flee SA.

“The accused was found at the departure gate (at Adelaide Airport) after having checked into a Jetstar flight to Sydney,” the police prosecutor said.

“She was arrested and declined to answer questions.”

Thi Xuan Yen Nguyen has appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on drug trafficking charges. Picture: Kaysee Miller

Police prosecution did not oppose home detention bail under appropriate conditions.

Nguyen’s defence lawyer said while it was reasonably clear from police information that the house was set up to grow cannabis, there were questions over who was involved in setting it up.

“There is no history of significance that would suggest (Nguyen) would be a bad candidate for bail,” the defence lawyer said.

“With the issue of being a flight risk, prosecution don’t have an issue with bail, as long as it’s home detention and I’d suggest that would obviously significantly reduce or negate her ability to flee.

“If she should do so, it would obviously lead to much bigger problems for her down the track.”

Magistrate Luke Davis granted home detention bail and ordered Nguyen’s passport be surrendered.

“I’ll make it completely clear that if you breach any of the conditions, you’ll be locked up for a long period of time,” he said.

Nguyen will next appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on September 15 for charge determination.