Queensland Government applies to have alleged drug trafficker’s cash given to Public Trustee

Police reveal how $330,000 cash was found in a secret compartment in the car of an alleged drug dealer seen doing “dead drops” at the Brisbane Fish Market.

An alleged drug trafficker could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars, some of which he claimed was from a nail salon business, after it was seized by police.

Police allege Anh Phuoc Nguyen, 34, of Durack, was identified as a suspected drug trafficker during Operation Tango Balboa which was set up to target the distribution of methamphetamine around Brisbane.

According to court documents Nguyen was placed under police surveillance and allegedly seen participating in “dead drops” – the covert passing of items between parties without people having to meet at the same time.

Police allegedly seized more than $300,000 from a secret compartment in Nguyen's car. Picture: QPS

Police also allege Nguyen was seen at various locations, such as the Brisbane Fish Markets in Oxley, where people would enter his vehicle for less than a minute before exiting.

In December 2022 Nguyen was parked at McDonalds in Park Ridge when police allege he appeared to arrange unknown items through the rear seat of his car.

A few days later police intercepted Nguyen driving through Inala.

A police sniffer dog was brought in and allegedly indicated drugs were or had been present in the car, according to court documents.

The vehicle was seized and taken to a holding yard.

Later that day police executed a search warrant at Nguyen’s Durack home where they allegedly located $23,700 in bundled up cash and just over 10 grams of cocaine in clip seal bags lying around the property.

According to court documents Nguyen said the cash was sourced from a nail salon business.

A few weeks later police got around to searching Nguyen‘s vehicle and allegedly found $330,905 in 33 bundles stored in a concealed compartment behind the rear seats.

Police allegedly also found a cash counter and drugs in the compartment. Picture: QPS

Police allege they also found just over 3kg of meth divided into 10 bags and 3.87 grams of cocaine in the compartment.

Nguyen has been charged with two counts of trafficking drugs (serious organised crime) relating to methamphetamine and cocaine, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of producing dangerous drugs, possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of a drug crime, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, contravening an order about information necessary to access information stored electronically and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.

The State of Queensland has applied to the Supreme Court for an order restraining the cash allegedly found by police and placing it with the Public Trustee.

If the Supreme Court considers the circumstances require it, the court may direct the public trustee to take control of some or all of the property restrained under an order, according to the Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2022.

In an affidavit filed in court, a financial investigator from the Crime and Corruption Commission said she suspected Nguyen had engaged in a serious crime related activity, namely possessing dangerous drugs.

The application is set down for a hearing later this month.