Covid lockdown escapee Aaron Luong in court over $2m drug bust

Wedging drugs into moving boxes and between mattresses, a Sydney dealer got past Byron Bay before he was caught. Here’s what 183kg of marijuana, 2.5kg of meth, 816g of heroin looks like.

A Covid lockdown escapee caught driving down the Pacific Highway with about $2 million worth of drugs has been jailed for six years.

Aaron Luong, 21, had stashed 183kg of marijuana inside removalist boxes, 816g of heroin between two mattresses and 2.5kg of meth in a Woolworths bag when he was pulled over north of Byron Bay.

Police stopped Luong on the Pacific Highway at Tyagarah for veering over the road edge line about 8.30am on July 6, 2021.

A Cabramatta man has been refused bail after more than $2 million worth of marijuana, heroin and methylamphetamine was seized during a vehicle stop near Byron Bay on July 6, 2021.

Officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the rental truck the Cabramatta man was driving and called in further resources to search the vehicle.

A subsequent search uncovered the huge drug stash, believed to have a street value of about $2 million, secreted inside.

A Cabramatta man was found with of marijuana, heroin and methylamphetamine during a vehicle stop near Byron Bay on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Photo: NSW Police.

Documents found showed the vehicle had been rented from Blacktown on July 5, 2021.

A Cabramatta man was initially refused bail after more than $2 million worth of marijuana, heroin and methylamphetamine was seized during a vehicle stop near Byron Bay on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

Luong did not answer any police questions related to drug supply when asked.

Police also found a black sports bag with a high-vis shirt, male underpants and $755 in cash.

Police seized 2.5kg of meth and 0.816kg of heroin. Photo: NSW Police

At the time of the offence, Sydney residents were not allowed to leave home without reasonable excuse.

Luong pleaded guilty in Lismore District Court in May to supplying commercial quantities of prohibited drugs, dealing with the proceeds of a crime and leaving home without reasonable excuse during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Luong was sentenced this week to six years and six months in jail for supplying commercial quantities of a prohibited drug and breaching Covid-19 rules.

He will be eligible to apply for parole on January 5, 2025.