Cannabis bust D-Day: Manh Thang Nguyen to face sentence for $1 million in weed in Bangalow

The father-of-two appeared in court Monday as he awaited his sentencing date for growing an estimated $1 million worth of cannabis, found during a random breath test in the Byron Shire.

$1 Million of cannabis seized following Bangalow vehicle stop.

A father of two will soon face his fate for cultivating cannabis plants and supplying the drug after he was found with $1 million worth of cannabis during a random breath test.

Manh Thang Nguyen, 37, appeared in Lismore District court by audiovisual link on Monday, July 26, where he was arraigned for two offences – supplying a prohibited drug, and knowingly take part in the cultivation of a commercial quantity of cannabis.

The court also heard Nguyen faces two charges on a Form 1 certificate, namely possession of a prohibited drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime, in an amount exceeding $1000.

Nguyen pleaded guilty to both charges and accepted the charges on the Form 1 Certificate.

Nguyen, from Marrickville, Sydney, was arrested during an RBT stop on the Pacific Highway near Bangalow on January 16, 2020.

Police allege he was carrying 60.9kg of cannabis stored across stored across 145 bags with a street value of $1 million and had $278,696.90 cash in his possession.

It is further alleged Nguyen knowingly took part in the cultivation of 174 cannabis plants in Tenambit in the Hunter Region on February 14, 2018.

Nguyen does not have any co-accused parties.

During Monday proceedings, a total of 12 pages in agreed facts were handed up to the court.

Mr Nguyen’s solicitor John Peluso asked a sentencing assessment report and Vietnamese interpreter be made available for the sentence date.

Judge Jeffery McLennan adjourned the sentence to September 30.