Former Sandy Bay restaurant owner Duc Van Nguyen jailed for drug trafficking

A FORMER Sandy Bay restaurateur who became embroiled in the dangerous drug trade will spend at least two and a half years behind bars.

The Supreme Court building in Hobart.

A FORMER Sandy Bay restaurateur who became embroiled in the dangerous drug trade will spend at least two and a half years behind bars.

Duc Van Nguyen, 33, had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

During sentencing today in the Hobart Supreme Court, Justice Pierre Slicer said Van Nguyen — as a chef and owner of the Duc’s Asian Cusine — had been a productive citizen whose life had spiralled out of control after he started to take drugs “through work pressures”.

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Justice Slicer said Van Nguyen had started buying drugs in association with a circle of friends, but by 2015-16 he was involved in a commercial trade.

Police raids targeting Van Nguyen uncovered drugs, including methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine and cannabis, along with firearms, a ledger revealing clients who had owed him up to $89,200, and phone records linking him to a “a commercial trade of a highly dangerous substance’’.

“Between October 2015 and August 2017 police had seized 273.55 grams of ice from the defendant or his clients which would have generated approximately $96,000. The estimate of sales was between $200,000 and $300,000.”

Justice Slicer said police had also identified a contact who had taken multiple trips to Victoria to obtain drugs for Van Nguyen, but the defendant had not been operating as part of a criminal syndicate or gang and had no prior convictions.

Justice Slicer said such offences had continued after Van Nguyen had been released from jail on bail in February 2016.

“An aggravating matter is the possession of firearms ... they were kept out of fear rather than enforcement,’’ he said.

Justice Slicer said Van Nguyen had fled Vietnam with his mother after his father and older brother had died.

After setting in Australia, he had been educated until year 10 before leaving to help his mother in the restaurant — which he later bought.

“The restaurant business collapsed in 2017, while he was in prison,’’ he said.

Justice Slicer sentenced Van Nguyen — who had already been in custody since August 2016 — to four years and nine months in jail. He will not be eligible for parole until early next year.

Justice Slicer also ordered the forfeiture of assets to the value of $33,507.