Not guilty: Five accused over $1.7m drug farm to contest charges
Five men have fronted Ipswich court to contest their charges after police shut down a $1.7 million drug farm in Lockyer Valley earlier this year.
Police & Courts
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Five men charged after a Lockyer Valley mega drug bust will be contesting their drug production charges, a court has heard.
The charges relate to a rural drug farm valued a whopping $1.7 million that police uncovered on two Lockyer Valley properties in May.
At the time, a Queensland Police spokesman said police searched a Brightview property and found four greenhouses containing 4,581 cannabis plants, hydroponic growing chemicals and irrigation, along with 28 kilograms of dried cannabis in a shed on the property.
The spokesman said police also searched a Mount Tarampa property and found a further 144 cannabis plants and a greenhouse with a sophisticated hydroponics system.
State Drug Squad Detective Acting Inspector Stephen Thiry said police would allege the crops were used by a criminal syndicate for large scale production.
Five men – Chi Tanh Vu, Tuan Anh Pham, Quang Ba Le, Hoang Van Vu, and Huan Dinh Pham – were charged with producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, and possessing anything for use in the commission of a crime.
Tuan Anh Pham and Chi Tanh Vu were further charged with possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under the drugs misuse act.
On September 28, Ipswich Magistrate‘s Court heard the five men intended to contest the production and possession charges.
Brookfield man Chi Tanh Vu, 36, and Forest Lake man Tuan Anh Pham, 28, had their matters listed for a committal full hand-up on December 16. Mr Vu’s bail was enlarged, and Mr Pham remained remanded in custody.
The court heard Quang Ba Le, 27, from Endeavour Hills in Melbourne, was on bail and would be seeking a directions hearing for cross examination. His matter was listed for October 26.
Brightview man Hoang Van Vu, 22, remains on bail and will appear in court again on October 26.
Durack man Huan Dinh Pham, 46, was remanded in custody and law firm Challenge Legal indicated he planned to proceed by way of a registry committal.
All five matters are expected to be dealt with together on October 26 to determine whether the other co-accused intend to join Chi Tanh Vu and Tuan Anh Pham’s December committal hand-up.
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