Truc-Hung Tran awaits fate for drug trafficking after entangling wife Yasmin El-Masri in enterprise

A courier awaits his fate after being caught with a significant amount of drugs and cash in his car before getting his wife to hide evidence.

A courier has begged for no jail after he was caught with a significant amount of drugs and cash in his car.

Truc-Hung Tran, 27, awaits his fate after he then entangled his wife in his criminal enterprise to pay off his gambling debt.

Tran was stopped by police on December 27, 2023 at Port Adelaide and police found $43,000 in a bag and 1.358kg of cannabis.

Mitch Mott, prosecuting, told the District Court that the cannabis was worth around $20,000 if sold in ounces.

After his arrest, Tran called his wife Yasmin El-Masri, 27, who arrived at the traffic stop before leaving a short time later.

Truc Tran and wife Yasmin El-Masri pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. Photo: Instagram

El-Masri was handed a suspended sentence last month. Photo: Instagram

Police then attended the couple’s home at Paralowie and found a Coles shopping bag containing cannabis weighing 381g and 392g in a vehicle.

Police also found two heat-sealed bags of cannabis in the main bedroom, as well as an electronic money counter.

The court heard CCTV showed El-Masri carrying a Coles shopping bag and black jumper to the car.

“You acted as an assistant for your co-offender and on his instructions removed the cannabis from inside your home in a misguided attempt to protect your family from legal consequences,” Judge Anthony Allen said during El-Masri’s sentencing.

El-Masri, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, was sentenced last month to one year and four months jail, with a non-parole period of eight months.

However, due to El-Masri caring for the couple’s children and minor role in the offending, the sentence was suspended on a $500, 12 month good behaviour bond.

Will Mickan, for Tran, told the court his client had a gambling addiction, which resulted in a significant debt and placed substantial pressure on his family unit.

“It is against this background that Mr Tran was introduced to someone who presented a way for him to address his gambling debt,” he said.

“He was provided with cannabis which he then couriered to other locations to collect payment.

“The money found in the car was not Tran’s but rather the money he collected as a courier.”

Mr Mickan asked the court to suspend Tran’s sentence, saying he had ceased using cannabis and gambling since his arrest.

“Ms El Masri is alone in South Australia, caring for the children without assistance and that’s a significant source of distress on Mr Tran’s part,” he said.

Tran, who is in custody in Western Australia on an unrelated matter, will be sentenced next month.

Originally published as Truc-Hung Tran awaits fate for drug trafficking after entangling wife Yasmin El-Masri in enterprise