Couple charged over massive cannabis syndicate in Adelaide’s north face court

A couple charged over a huge weed-growing operation that included multiple alleged grow houses across Adelaide’s north have faced court seeking bail – desperate to live together.

A woman on a temporary visa and a man with prior convictions for drug growing have been granted the strictest form of bail to live together.

On Friday, Anh Dang Nguyen, 35, and Christoanera Osuyun, 31, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court to continue their application to live in the same Salisbury Downs address on home detention bail.

Police prosecution alleged a third person was still at large as investigations into the “significant” operation continue.

The court heard Ms Osuyun was currently in Australia on a bridging visa.

More than 40kg of cannabis was uncovered in the northern suburbs as part of a police investigation. Picture: South Australian Police.

The couple was arrested on June 25 after Northern District CIB searched a Paralowie home and located 40 kilograms of dried cannabis and $12,000.

Following the search, Mr Nguyen and Ms Osuyun, were charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis, three counts of possessing prescribed equipment, two counts of diverting electricity from power system and money laundering.

The couple was also hit with further charges over their alleged role in three cannabis ‘grow houses’ previously found at Parafield Gardens, Smithfield Plains and Elizabeth Downs.

Mr Nguyen was charged with cultivating cannabis at a Parafield Gardens address in February, after police found 65 cannabis plants growing hydroponically.

He was also charged with cultivating cannabis in relation to 165 cannabis plants growing hydroponically at a Smithfield Plains address, in April.

A Mercedes Benz car was also seized as part of the investigation. Picture: South Australian Police.

Ms Osuyun was also charged with cultivating and trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis, after 107 cannabis plants – also hydroponically grown – were found alongside 25 kgs of dried cannabis, at a Elizabeth Downs address, in January.

A Mercedes Benz was also seized by police under the Criminal Assets Confiscation Act.

The court heard Mr Nguyen had previously served a 10-month sentence for charges of cultivating a controlled plant and recently served a two years suspended sentence in 2022 for possessing prescribed equipment.

Mr White said he was mindful of the delays both defendants would face before they would go to trial.

Mr White granted both Mr Nguyen and Ms Osuyun release on home detention bail, and they will both appear in Adelaide in September.

Originally published as Couple charged over massive cannabis syndicate in Adelaide’s north face court