Anh Vu Hoang, Trong Dung Bui: Pair jailed over cannabis crop

A man who tended the cannabis crop which was part of a $3 million western Sydney cannabis syndicate said he mistakenly thought he was signing up for a house sitting gig.

A man who helped secretly cultivate marijuana in unassuming homes across western Sydney originally thought he was being paid to house-sit and water the plants.

Vietnamese nationals Anh Vu Hoang, 38, and Trong Dung Bui, 20, both from Bankstown, were among 11 people arrested in March 2020 following nine month police investigation Strike Force Riche which saw officers seize a haul of cannabis buds worth $3 million.

Overall, the raids targeted homes in Liverpool, Bankstown, Lansvale, Revesby, Punchbowl and Yagoona.

The duo were housemates and court documents show when police raided their Bankstown home they found 113 seedlings and 24.5g of cannabis leaf.

Some of the crop cultivated by the syndicate. Picture: NSW Police

Officers then raided a property in Vega St, Revesby connected to Hoang where they made another sizeable discovery.

“90 cannabis plants and equipment for a sophisticated hydroponic set‑up. That set‑up had been engineered to bypass the electrical metre,” court documents read.

A third home on Rossmore Ave in Punchbowl, this time connected to Bui, was also raided with officers pouncing on 68 plants in a similar set up.

Both men pleaded guilty to knowingly cultivating the cannabis in a quantity defined as a larger than small but below the commercial band.

The court heard when Hoang, who had a previously clean criminal history, came to Australia he was unable to gain work due to visa issues and despite volunteering his time in his brother’s bakery, felt guilty for being a financial burden.

Strike Force Riche officers examine the items seized. Picture: NSW Police

He initially sought out cash-in-hand hospitality gigs but was soon made a more lucrative offer.

“He was offered employment that included accommodation in exchange for the maintenance of a property, which included the care of plants,” court documents read.

“Following an advance payment prior to commencing that work, he commenced that work and quickly realised he said the illegal nature of the operation.

“He says that he did not want to continue his participation but was unable to repay the advance payment and was consequently forced to continue.”

Hoang was granted bail in December but as he was unable to meet the conditions, remained on remand.

District Court Judge Andrew Coleman, who defined the role of both men as “crop sitters” sentenced Hoang to 22 months jail with a non‑parole period of 16 months.

As the sentence is backdated to commence from the date which he was taken into custody he will be eligible for parole later this month on July 24.

Bui was bailed in March this year after spending almost a year on remand.

Since being bailed, he has found work at a Parramatta restaurant and a car wash in Strathfield and is now living with a relative in Lansvale.

The court was told although he enjoyed working at his parents’ karaoke bar in Vietnam, Bui had concerns about the communist party and so decided to come and seek opportunities in Australia.

Hoang and Bui’s father were friends back home and the pair were known to one another since Bui was a small child.

The hydroponic set up was described as sophisticated. Picture: NSW Police

Bui too had money woes and was soon invited to take part in the cannabis cultivation by the much older Hoang.

“He said that the offender Hoang said words to the effect to him that it was a safe job and if the offender Bui did it, then he would give him money to help with his living expenses,” court documents state.

“He was told that all he had to do was to clean and cut some of the plants.”

Bui was sentence 18 months jail with a non-parole period of 11 months.

As he has already served 11 months and 13 days on remand he is free to go.