Phoung Minh Le to be deported after Rosedale cannabis farm raid

A man lured to Australia under false promises, forced to work without pay and caught up in a drug operation at a cannabis farm is set to be deported after more than 300 days behind bars.

Police uncovered a cannabis growing set-up at a Bundaberg region property last year.

A father has been exploited by a criminal enterprise at a cannabis farm in Rosedale is facing deportation after spending nearly a year in custody.

Phoung Minh Le, a 36-year-old Vietnamese citizen, pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous schedule 2 drugs after being found with over 500 grams of cannabis.

The case, which was heard in Bundaberg District Court, involved a police raid on a cannabis farm in Rosedale on November 21, 2023.

During the search, police discovered two plastic bags containing cannabis buds.

Prosecutor Kate Thamm told the court the total amount of cannabis found was 3.776kg.

Ms Thamm also said that Le had no prior Queensland criminal history but was an unlawful non-citizen of Australia.

She said Le was one of six individuals found on the farm, which was being used for the commercial production of cannabis.

Ms Thamm told the court that the offence occurred when Le was 35 years old, and the possession of the drugs was for a commercial purpose.

Le has been in custody since the date of the search, meaning he had already spent 308 days in detention.

In Le’s defence, the court was told Le had come to Australia in 2017 “to obtain work to provide a better life for his family”.

He was recruited to the farm, believing he would work as a cook or cleaner.

However, the court was told Le’s passport was held by a third party and he was never paid for his services.

The court was told Le was originally promised $2000 a month and that the Vietnamese man was remorseful for getting involved in the offending.

Judge John Allen acknowledged the element of exploitation in Le’s employment.

He clarified that Le was not being sentenced for his involvement in the production of the cannabis but for possession.

The judge said “it seems there was an element of exploitation of you in your employment”.

He noted that Le had been recruited as a cook for those involved in the crop’s production.

In closing, Judge Allen remarked that Le’s “deportation from Australia upon release of custody is inevitable,” and said that he would be going home to his wife and young son, in Vietnam.

Le was sentenced to 308 days imprisonment, which equates to time already served.