Drug-dealing Hobart chef Duc Van Nguyen offered fresh shot at redemption by Tasmanian parole board

A meth-dealing Sandy Bay restaurateur, convicted of resuming his drug-delivery business just months after being released from prison in 2019, has won a fresh chance at freedom.

Duc's Takeaway in Sandy Bay.

A meth-dealing Sandy Bay restaurateur, convicted of resuming his drug-delivery business just months after being released from prison in 2019, has won a fresh chance at freedom.

Duc Van Nguyen, 40, was the chef and owner of Duc’s Asian Cuisine – a business that collapsed in 2017 during Nguyen’s first stint in jail for selling more than $200,000 of the drug ice.

Nguyen was released on parole in early 2019, but quickly returned to his old lifestyle – resuming his methylamphetamine use, reconnecting with criminal associates, and facing regular approaches from former customers.

Using his car to run a meth-delivery business across greater Hobart between May and July 2019, Nguyen was arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and dealing with the proceeds of crime after $7000 in cash was found hidden in his home during a police raid.

Duc Van Nguyen outside court.

After pleading guilty at an early stage, Nguyen was in 2020 sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment, with a minimum term of two years and three months.

“You indicated a plea of guilty to the trafficking charge at an early time and entered a plea to the proceeds of crime charge in the Magistrates Court,” Supreme Court Justice Michael Brett said in sentencing.

“Your counsel submitted that these early pleas are evidence of remorse.

“I accept this, but your claim of remorse must be balanced against your persistence in offending.”

Nguyen returned to Risdon in both 2022 and 2023 following parole noncompliance issues, and his subsequent application for release was delayed twice to allow him commence opiate replacement therapy treatment while in custody.

In its recent decision, the Parole Board of Tasmania found Nguyen had experienced a difficult childhood both before and after arriving in Australia aged nine, and developed a strong work history beginning in restaurants at age 14.

The Parole Board said Nguyen’s offending had been driven by a decade-long addiction to methamphetamine, and acknowledged the positive behaviour he had demonstrated in the custodial environment since completing treatment.

“Since his last parole revocation, Mr Nguyen has been working with Holyoake drug and alcohol counselling,” the decision read.

“Mr Nguyen reports pharmacotherapy is working well for him, describing reduced anxiety and improved concentration.

“The Parole Board feels that with ORT now giving the applicant stability, his supportive and pro social home environment, that the applicant should be given another chance to succeed on parole and be a contributing member of society.”

The Board granted Nguyen parole until December 2026, on condition he wear an electronic monitoring device, and be electronically monitored.

Originally published as Drug-dealing Hobart chef Duc Van Nguyen offered fresh shot at redemption by Tasmanian parole board