Blacktown $225k cannabis haul: Khuong Bui, Xuan Nguyen charged
Police have allegedly uncovered dozens of cannabis plants worth more than $225,000 during a raid on a quiet Blacktown home. Two men have been charged, but deny cultivating the plants.
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Two men have been granted bail after allegedly cultivating cannabis plants worth more than $225,000 at a home in a quiet Blacktown street.
Khuong N Bui, 31, and Xuan Tam Nguyen, 23, both of Bankstown, were charged after police raided a home in Mulgi St, Blacktown on Wednesday night and allegedly uncovered 45 cannabis plants.
Police allege the crop of mature plants had a potential street value of $225,000.
Mr Bui and Nguyen were arrested at the home and charged with a string of offences, including: cultivating a prohibited plant (less than indictable quantity), cultivating cannabis for a commercial purpose and using electricity without authority.
The pair faced Blacktown Local Court via audio-visual link on Thursday where they both successfully applied for bail.
In applying for bail, the court heard the men had no histories of criminal offending.
Their defence lawyer took issue with the allegation that the men were cultivating plants in an enhanced indoor set up.
“There is no evidence of involvement in cultivation,” the defence said.
“Mr Khuong was seen at the property on two occasions … the allegation at most is being at a drug premises.”
The court heard Mr Khuong had allegedly tried to flee the scene.
It was heard that Mr Bui had been spotted at the premises on one occasion by police and was arrested in the living room.
Magistrate McCarron said despite any potential holes in the prosecution case in regards to the alleged cultivation, the men faced jail time if convicted.
“It is a situation where a custodial sentence in my view is inevitable,” she said.
“In regards to the strength of the prosecution case, (Mr Bui) is found at the premises and he’s tried to alight from the scene.
“There is some inference that can be drawn from the nature of the offence that (Mr Bui) has criminal associations.
The defence said Mr Nguyen, who worked at an Asian grocery store in Cabramatta, had only been seen at the premises on one occasion for eight minutes prior to his arrest.
“It would appear he played a lesser role. He was there on one occasion and he was found in the lounge room,” the defence said.
Magistrate McCarron found the police case against the men to be “strong” but possible issues in regards to the alleged cultivation would need to be addressed.
The men were given strict bail and ordered not to have contact. They will return to court in November.