Trong Cuong Nguyen to be sentenced for cannabis houses at Singleton, Aberglasslyn

A man who was caught at one cannabis house and linked to a second by his DNA and fingerprints told police he was there to deliver groceries.

A Vietnamese national who ran sophisticated hydroponic cannabis farms in houses across the Hunter told police he was merely delivering groceries when caught at one of the properties.

Trong Cuong Nguyen, 29, previously pleaded guilty in Newcastle District Court to knowingly take part in cultivation of a large quantity of cannabis and knowingly take part in cultivation of a commercial quantity of cannabis.

Supplied Editorial Strike Force Devom seized cannabis plants from a Aberglasslyn property. Picture: NSW Police.

In documents tendered to the court, police said they happened upon one of the “hydro houses” in March 2018.

Officers attended the Honeysuckle Rd, Aberglasslyn property for an unrelated matter and noticed lights and a mechanical humming coming from the garage.

Police said they returned to search the home two days later and found 321 cannabis plants across five rooms, plus 22kg of loose leaves and an elaborate set-up for lighting, watering and ventilation.

Cannabis plants were found in five rooms of the house. Picture: NSW Police.

Eighteen months later police were alerted to suspicious activity at a house at Dimmock St, Singleton.

Detectives surveilled the property for three months and observed Nguyen there at least once.

A search of that home uncovered 248 cannabis plants and another sophisticated hydroponic set-up.

Nguyen was arrested and linked to the Aberglasslyn property by his DNA and fingerprints.

In addition to the plants, police found an elaborate set-up for lighting, watering and ventilation. Picture: NSW Police.

During sentencing submissions on Friday, the court heard Nguyen told police he was cleaning, mowing and delivering groceries to the Singleton property.

Crown prosecutor Tara Ehsman refuted the claim.

“Any person in those premises would be aware of the extent of the operation,” Ms Ehsman said.

“There were a number of persons involved in cultivation at this address. It’s obviously very sophisticated and requires many moving parts.”

Police first notice lights and mechanical noises coming from the property. Picture: NSW Police.

Nguyen’s lawyer Greg Jones said his client didn’t deny being at the properties but he was not the mastermind behind the operation.

“His role was at a very low level,” Mr Jones said.

“On both the prosecution’s side and the defence’s side, there amounts to a very low level of criminality.”

Judge Catherine Traill will hand down Nguyen’s sentence on November 5.