Mingyue Wen: Hurstville sentenced for jail trafficking after AN0M sting

A series of messages on the AN0M app led police to the unsuspecting suburban home of a university graduate. Here, under a Santa Claus costume, they found more than 1.5kg of meth.

A Santa Claus costume was the unlikely hiding spot for more than 1.5kg of meth.

This shocking drug bust at a suburban home came after police followed a trail of messages on the AN0M app — a trojan horse set up by the Australian Federal Police and FBI to monitor criminal networks.

Mingyue Wen, of Hurstville, appeared via videolink at Downing Centre District Court and remained emotionless, with no family or friends sitting in the courtroom, as she faced Judge Jennie Girdham SC to learn her fate for her role in the trafficking of drugs.

In February, Wen pleaded guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.

On Tuesday, the court heard how Wen came to the attention of police when they were investigating a separate conspiracy to import cocaine into Australia.

Mingyue Wen (pictured) was arrested by police on June 11, 2021.

Messages on the AN0M app were exchanged between two men, one of whom was alleged senior Comanchero bikie Emmanuel Vamvoukakis, about the payment of cash to finance the cocaine importation conspiracy. Little did these men know police were tracking every message they sent.

On May 3, 2021, police watched one of these men walk down Alice Lane in Newtown and place $50,000 in the boot of Wen’s Toyota, the court heard.

Police arrested Wen at her Hurstville home.

After Wen received the money, she messaged one of the men and asked, “how many you give us today — I was told 50,” the court heard.

Wen also exchanged messages with the other man, saying she thought she would be receiving $500,000 in cash.

Police raided Wen’s home on June 11, 2021. Here they located and seized a dark green box — inside this box 1.5kg of ice was hidden underneath a Santa Claus beard and hat.

In court, Judge Girdham described Wen’s role as “akin to a courier and warehouser of drugs”.

“Her acts depended on the actions of others … (but they) were critical to the commission of the offence,” Judge Girdham said.

Then court heard how Wen, an only child, migrated to Australia with her parents from China. After arriving in Australia, Wen graduated from high school and went on to complete a degree at Curtin University.

“Her upbringing was devoid of drugs, alcohol, violence, neglect or trauma … (she) was raised in a loving, supportive and law-abiding family,” Judge Girdham said.

“Her involvement in the offending is inexplicable other than for financial reward.”

However, Judge Girdham found Wen’s role in the drug trafficking operation was towards the lower end of seriousness.

“Her lack of previous criminal convictions and otherwise good characters bodes well for her prospects of rehabilitation,” Judge Girdham said.

For her crime, Wen was sentenced to three years and six months behind bars, with a non-parole period of two years and two months.

Having already served time in prison, the earliest Wen could be released is August 10, 2023.