Durack dad Huan Dinh Pham sentenced after $6.5m cannabis bust

A Brisbane dad could be forced out of the country after police busted him tending to a cannabis crop worth up to $6.5 million west of Ipswich.

A southeast Queensland dad whose employment prospects soured after the Covid pandemic is headed right back to where he started after his involvement in a $6.5 million cannabis farming operation was uncovered.

Durack man Huan Dinh Pham, 47, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on February 17 to producing dangerous drugs (quantity exceeding 500g) and possessing dangerous drugs (quantity exceeding 500g).

The court heard police raided a Brightview farm in May last year and uncovered a large-scale cannabis operation.

They discovered two greenhouses with a total 4574 cannabis plants growing, along with other buildings that contained drying racks and loose or harvested cannabis totalling 37.15kg.

Judge Dennis Lynch said the value of the cannabis found was estimated to be in excess of $6.5 million.

The court heard Pham was a worker at the crop site and one of five men charged at the time.

Five people were charged with drug offences after detectives seized cannabis plantations from two rural properties west of Ipswich on May 17. Picture: QPS

Judge Lynch said it was “obvious” Pham had been living at the farm, as police found bedding and identifying personal items on the property.

The court heard Pham, and allegedly others, had been renting the farm and had used false documents to conceal the identity of the person arranging the lease.

Judge Lynch noted Pham was Vietnamese and had come to Australia in 2016 hoping to improve his family’s prospects.

He said Pham’s wife, 12-year-old daughter, elderly father and four brothers still lived in Vietnam.

Defence barrister Scott Neaves said his client had worked in several reputable positions since coming to Australia – largely in “factory type” work due to his limited English.

Mr Neaves said Pham had struggled to find work during the Covid-19 pandemic and that difficulty was what led him to participating in the illegal operation.

Judge Lynch noted Pham had been in custody on remand for 276 days since his arrest.

He said he accepted that time had been particularly difficult due to Pham’s limited English and limited contact with his family.

Judge Lynch further noted Pham had no criminal history and was simply a worker at the farm – not the individual who would have primarily benefited from the cannabis operation.

Pham was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended immediately after his 276 days served in presentence custody, for an operational period of two years.

Judge Lynch said it was likely Pham would, however, “inevitably” be deported as a result of the offending.