Darwin woman Thi Phuoc Dung Le allegedly involved with international cannabis syndicate
A Darwin woman is accused of helping an international drug syndicate launder more than $3m through a casino, sending cash through the mail, and developing a “network” of Top End customers.
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A Darwin woman is accused of helping an international drug syndicate launder more than $3m through a casino, sending cash through the mail, and developing a “network” of Top End customers.
Thi Phuoc Dung Le appeared in Darwin Local Court on Friday charged with possessing and supplying a commercial quantity of drugs and holding property in the commission of an offence.
Judge Sally Ozolins heard the 57-year-old woman had been under covert police surveillance for months, allegedly exposing a “network of customers” and her role in sending thousands of dollars across the country.
Prosecutor Brittany Stone said police allegedly observed Ms Le making some unusual drop offs at Australia Post, including a package with $77,000 in cash bound for Victoria.
“Police believe that the accused person is part of a drug syndicate that’s linked to Victoria, it’s a large Vietnamese syndicate,” Ms Stone said.
Ms Stone presented photos of cannabis and cash allegedly from the day of the police raid on her home, saying she was arrested with $9000 in her handbag.
She told the court police suspected the cannabis syndicate had laundered around $3m in profits through a casino.
However Ms Ozolins said there was nothing in the current court documents backing that claim, saying the surveillance largely focused on the alleged movements of large sums of money.
Ms Ozolins said the police’s statement of alleged facts included “a lot of assertions” about actions, which she acknowledged were “highly suspicious” but did not in themselves prove criminality.
“They saw her posting the parcel with $77,000 in cash in it, that’s not necessarily criminal behaviour,” she said.
“What I don’t have before me that lends to a strong crown case about what they’ve identified during the surveillance.”
Defence lawyer Laurence Waugh said he had also not received any documents alleging Ms Le’s role in a money laundering scheme.
He said Ms Le’s had no criminal history, it was her first time in custody, and she was a long term resident of the Territory.
Ms Ozolins said given it was “all highly suspicious” she could not grant bail, however approved an electronic monitoring device assessment.
The matter was adjourned to July 11.
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Originally published as Darwin woman Thi Phuoc Dung Le allegedly involved with international cannabis syndicate
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