Paul Luu sentenced to jail after major 60kg drug bust

A major Brisbane drug trafficker believed to be part of a prominent crime syndicate has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was caught with more than 60 kilograms of drugs.

A Brisbane drug trafficker who was caught with more than 60 kilograms of various illicit drugs at motel in Oxley two years ago has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Paul Luu, 32, was found with multiple suitcases containing exceedingly large quantities of various drugs including 45 kilograms of cannabis, one kilogram of cocaine, 3 kilograms of MDMA and nearly 10 kilograms of methamphetamine on December 23, 2019.

Mr Luu was also found with more than $133,000 in cash, 1300 diazepam tablets and two handguns -a .357 caliber Ruger revolver and a .22 caliber Beretta.

According to Crown Prosecutor Greg Cummings, Mr Luu’s offending was “connected with a well-organised and profitable criminal organisation,” with the seized drugs holding an estimated street value of $2 million.

Mr Luu on Thursday pleaded guilty to four counts of possess dangerous drug exceeding 200 grams, one count of possess dangerous drug exceeding 500 grams, one count of possess dangerous drug exceeding 2 grams, one count of possess category H weapon, and one count of money laundering at the Brisbane Supreme Court.

The court heard police were conducting surveillance on Mr Luu’s fiance Emily Louise Ross who delivered the suitcases to Mr Luu at a motel on the day of the offending, before taking another to a storage locker in Springfield.

The $2.3 million worth of drugs police claim are linked to a major trafficking syndicate. Picture: QLD Police

Justice Sean Cooper said the offending happened after Ms Ross flew to Sydney from Brisbane and back, returning with three large suitcases containing more than 45kg of cannabis, which she then delivered to the Oxley motel room.

“She collected a suitcase and took it to your storage locker and obviously was still under police surveillance,” Justice Cooper said.

“That suitcase contained 6.7 kilograms of methylamphetamine in 8.99 kilograms of substance with an average purity of 74.5 per cent and 437 grams of pure cocaine in one kilogram of substance with purity of 43.7 per cent.

“The locker was found to contain 2.789 kilograms of pure MDMA in 3.898 kilograms but substance with an average purity of 71.5 per cent, 1500 diazepam tablets in 30 unopened boxes and two handguns, a .357 caliber Ruger revolver and a .22 caliber Beretta.”

The court heard police then searched Luu‘s motel room only to find more drugs in the suitcases delivered by Ms Ross.

“A search of your motel room located 45.48 kilograms of package cannabis in the three suitcases which had been delivered to you by Miss Ross,” Justice Cooper said.

“Also located was 748.7 grams of pure methylamphetamine in 999.6 grams of substance with a purity of 70 74.9 per cent and 28.03 grams of pure cocaine in 36.834 grams of substance with a period of 76.1 per cent.

“Also located was $133,570 in cash.”

Cash seized during the major bust in December 2019. Picture: QLD Police

Ms Ross and fellow alleged gang member Brendan Wade Kanofski were also charged over the 2019 drug bust.

Justice Cooper said prior to the drug trafficking offences, Mr Luu laundered $586,000 through multiple cash payments made to Brisbane law firm, Bosscher Law Propriety Limited between March 3, 2014 and September 19, 2018.

There is no suggestion of a y wrong doing by Bosscher Law.

“Those funds were derived from unlawfully trafficking in dangerous drugs,” Justice Cooper said.

Crown Prosecutor Greg Cummings requested a head sentence of 12 years imprisonment with parole eligibility starting today, noting Mr Luu’s “high level of co-operation and relevant lack of criminal history.”

Mr Cummings argued that despite Mr Luu’s mature age, he was able to be rehabilitated.

“He has never before spent time in custody, so the period he has spent, now approaching two and a half years, is a significant punishment indeed,” Mr Cummings said.

“I’d ask your honour to consider him as a person who would offer some prospect of rehabilitation.

“He will have a very lengthy sentence hanging over his head for a very long time.”

Justice Cooper said Mr Luu‘s last recorded offence was in 2015 and while he did not have a “substantial criminal history,” Luu had persisted in his offending and a serious deterrent was required to stop him from further participating in any criminal enterprise.

“The offences for which you are to be sentenced to are very serious or relate to a high level, well-organised and profitable enterprise engaged in dealing in illegal drugs,” Justice Cooper said.

“The seriousness of that offending has substantially escalated over a number of years. You have not been gainfully employed instead, you’ve occupied your time with participation in illegal and illicit drug trade.

“Possession of cannabis and finally addictive schedule one drugs such as meth and cocaine is regrettably prevalent.

“I accept its prevalence is driven to a large extent by the addiction suffered by users and the money to be made from supplying those drugs.”

Mr Luu was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, three years imprisonment for possession of diazepam, five years imprisonment for possession of cannabis, 12 months imprisonment for possessing the handguns and a further three years imprisonment for money laundering.

All prison terms are to be served concurrently, with parole made eligible from today due to the 899 days Mr Luu spent in pre-custody, which will be counted as time served.

A conviction was recorded.